Wayne And Friends Back In Town For The Big Farewell
Wayne Clarke receiving attention from physio Denis Conyerd during his Wolves years.
Wayne Clarke has had a full-on reunion with many of his former Everton team-mates while being present for Sunday’s emotional farewell to Goodison Park.
Andy Gray and Derek Mountfield, big characters at opposite ends of the pitch in Wolves line-ups of different eras, were among the favourites the 64-year-old reconnected with after too long (for our liking!) out of the football loop.
“It was some weekend!” he summed up. “There was another connected event on up there this coming weekend and I was invited to that as well but decided I have drunk enough for now.
“I had two nights up there in the Titanic Hotel, which is about 250 yards from the new stadium. I could see it from my bedroom window and it looks fantastic.
“The game itself wasn’t great but it was all about the occasion, which was very emotional. And I will remember the noise and the crowds for a long time.
“I was pleased to be sitting next to Dave Jones and loved chatting to him about his time in charge at Wolves. He said how much he’d enjoyed it at Molineux but said he had enjoyed all his jobs.”
Wayne has become widowed in recent years and rather fallen out of love with the present-day game. We were therefore quite apprehensive about approaching him twice in mid-season after we were asked if we could put Merseyside sources in contact with him for interviews.
On one occasion, it was in the build-up to the last Merseyside derby at Goodison – he once hit the winning goal in the fixture.
Now we hope the thrill of meeting important figures from his past has seen to it that he will be present at matches and social gatherings more often in future.
“It was great to meet up with so many lads I had known well, like Adrian Heath and Neil Adams, who I used to travel to training with, and Paul Bracewell, who has Stoke connections as well,” Clarke added.
Wayne (right) with Duncan McKenzie at the weekend.
“Andy is always good value and, from the team I played in, there were also Derek (Mountfield), Neville Southall, Gary Stevens, Pat Van Den Hauwe, Trevor Steven, Peter Reid, Graame Sharp, Kevin Sheedy, Tony Cottee and Pat Nevin. Gary had come over with his son from Australia, where he now lives.
“I also enjoyed meeting Wayne Rooney and talking to him because it was at least 12 years since I had been to Goodison Park.
“I was asked to go and do some work in the corporate rooms and remember that Howard Kendall was there as well and it was the last match before David Moyes left for Manchester United.”
We are hoping to have a private meet-up with Wayne very soon, so please revisit this article when possible in case we have updated it, either in words or with photos.