Wolves v Burnley, Sherpa Van Trophy Final, 29th May 1988

Full match coverage of the Sherpa Van Trophy Final at Wembley between Wolves and Burnley on 29th May 1988.

Out of Darkness Cometh Light.

Just half a dozen years after winning the League Cup and competing in the UEFA Cup, Wolves had declined at such an alarming rate that they began the 1986-87 season in the the Fourth Division having suffered successive relegations from the top flight. With just two sides of Molineux closed through safety reasons and their support dwindling, Wolves had been perilously close to extinction before a lifeline was offered through a tripartite deal involving Wolverhampton Council, Asda and Gallagher Estates Limited. The deal marked the first tentative steps of the long haul back for Wolves.

Other vital components of the Wolves revival were gradually added; striker Andy Mutch, midfielder Mick Holmes and defender Floyd Streete had all been signed during the 1985-86 season and following the subsequent dismissals of manager Sammy Chapman and his successor Brian Little, the arrival of Graham Turner as manager in early October 1987 furthered the cause. As the season evolved, Turner signed the likes of goalkeeper Mark Kendall and a trio from West Bromwich Albion in Andy Thompson, Robbie Dennison and a then relatively unknown striker named Steve Bull. In addition to centre half Ally Robertson (also signed from West Brom, this time by Brian Little), all would feature prominently in the eventual return to respectability.

However, ahead of any such return, Wolves suffered their nadir with a comprehensive defeat against Chorley in an FA Cup first round tie. The latter half of the season, though, saw the Bull and Mutch partnership progress as an impressive upturn in results brought a near-promotion.

The following 1987-88 season saw Wolves achieve a double of sorts. Boosted considerably by Steve Bull's remarkable 52 league and cup goals, an impressive tally of 23 goals scored by Andy Mutch and 28 clean sheets achieved by Mark Kendall , Wolves won the Fourth Division title and the Sherpa Van Trophy. Both are considered the least noteworthy of the honours won by Wolves during their long and colourful history, but that in no way diminishes the regard and affection held by a large number of Wolves supporters for that particular season and the players and manager in general.

Remarkably, an estimated 45,000-50,000 Wolves fans were present at Wembley in an attendance of almost 81,000 for a match between two Fourth Division clubs, a figure that was 10,000 higher than for the England and Scotland fixture at the same stadium the weekend before.

The importance and symbolism of Wolves' lower league double was not lost on those who'd witnessed their inglorious fall from grace; the Wolves were back!

Commentator: Martin Tyler
Co-Commentator: Andy Gray
Interviewer: Jim Rosenthal

Approximate time of goals on YouTube footage:

38:17 Wolves 1 (Andy Mutch) Burnley 0
1:08:29 Wolves 2 (Robbie Dennison) Burnley 0