Wolverhampton Wanderers

Lore & Background

Formed as St. Luke's F.C. in 1877, the club changed name to Wolverhampton Wanderers two years later and became one of the founding members of the Football League in 1888. They won the FA Cup for the first time in 1893, and again as a Second Division team in 1908 following the club's relegation two years previously. They fell to the third tier in 1923, but went on to win the Third Division North in 1923–24 and the Second Division in 1931–32. The team was crowned English League champions three times – in 1953–54, 1957–58 and 1958–59 – all under the management of Stan Cullis. Wolves also won another two FA Cup finals, in 1949 and 1960. Relegated in 1965, after 26 consecutive seasons in the top flight, they secured promotion back to the First Division in 1966–67. Wolves won the League Cup in 1974 and 1980, and again won the Second Division title in 1976–77. Wolves suffered a financial crisis during the early-1980s recession that led to the club coming close to liquidation in 1982. In the five seasons between 1981–82 and 1985–86 Wolves were relegated four times (although there was also one promotion in 1982–83), meaning the club ended up in what was then the Football League Fourth Division (now EFL League Two) for the first (and so far only) time in the club's history. However, the club immediately started a swift turn-around, and having been beaten in the inaugural Football League play-off final in 1987, Wolves won the Fourth Division and Football League Trophy titles in 1987–88, followed by the Third Division title in 1988–89. After fourteen seasons in the second tier between 1989 and 2003, Wolves reached the Premier League, founded in 1992, for the first time with victory in the 2003 play-offs, though they were relegated after a single season in the top division on this occasion. Wolves won the Championship in 2008–09 to return to the Premier League, but endured relegation in 2011–12, followed by relegation again (to EFL League One) in 2012–13. The club then returned to the Premier League after first winning the League One title in 2013–14, followed by another Championship title in 2017–18. After becoming one of the first British clubs to install floodlights at its home ground in 1953, Wolves arranged televised 'floodlit friendlies' against leading overseas club sides between 1953 and 1956, the most notable being the famous Honved game, which were instrumental

In Their Own Story

The floodlights at Molineux had not yet fully settled into their warm amber glow when the first away fans arrived, their breath hanging in the October air. Inside the changing room, the captain ran his thumb along the seam of the gold shirt, feeling the familiar weight of the crest over his heart. He could hear them already—the away end, a thin ribbon of noise, but behind him, in the stands above, the home crowd was building, a low tide of sound that rose and fell like a furnace. He laced his boots, stepped onto the grass, and for one breath the whole of Wolverhampton pressed against his back. Then the whistle, and the world narrowed to the next twenty-two yards of pitch. The rest, he knew, was just history waiting to be written.

Reader's Guide

Wolverhampton Wanderers, known as Wolves, are based in Wolverhampton in the Black Country. Their home ground is Molineux Stadium. The club's traditional colours are old gold shirts and socks with black shorts, and the crest features a wolf's head. The club's main rivalry is the Black Country derby with West Bromwich Albion. The club was founded in 1877 as St. Luke's F.C. and changed to its current name in 1879. Wolves have won the English league championship three times (1953–54, 1957–58, 1958–59), the FA Cup four times (1893, 1908, 1949, 1960), and the League Cup twice (1974, 1980). They have also won the Second Division/Championship title multiple times, most recently in 2017–18. The club is owned by Fosun International.

Did You Know?

• Wolves were one of the founding members of the Football League in 1888.
• The club's most successful period was the 1950s under manager Stan Cullis, winning three league titles and two FA Cups.
• Wolves installed floodlights at Molineux in 1953 and hosted famous floodlit friendlies that helped inspire the creation of the European Cup.
• The club came close to liquidation in 1982 during a financial crisis.
• Wolves have been owned by Chinese conglomerate Fosun International since 2016.