The 1982–83 season was the 84th of competitive league football in the history of Wolverhampton Wanderers. They finished runners-up in the Second Division to win promotion back to the First Division after one season away.
| 1982–83 season | |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Derek Dougan |
| Manager |  Graham Hawkins |
| Stadium | Molineux |
| Football League Second Division | 2nd (promoted) |
| Milk Cup | Second round |
| FA Cup | Fourth round |
| Top goalscorer | League: Mel Eves (18) All: Mel Eves (19) |
| Highest home attendance | 22,567 v Leeds United (Division Two, 3 January 1983) |
| Lowest home attendance | 11,856 v Middlesbrough (Division Two, 4 December 1982) |
| Average home league attendance | 15,683 |
Season summary edit
Wolves were relegated from the First Division at the end of the 1981–82 season and went into receivership as financial difficulties following construction of the new John Ireland stand caught up with them. They came close to liquidation but were saved at the eleventh hour by a consortium fronted by former player Derek Dougan.[1]
Dougan sacked manager Ian Greaves and replaced him with former Wolves teammate Graham Hawkins.[2] Hawkins named Jim Barron as his assistant and put Frank Upton in charge of the youth team with a brief that young players would be important to the first team due to the club's tight budget.[3] Indeed, three teenagers – Dave Wintersgill, Billy Livingstone and Paul Butler – made their debuts against Blackburn Rovers on the opening day of the new season.[4]
Wolves were unbeaten for the first 10 matches and also went 817 minutes without conceding a league goal. Both runs were ended by Leicester City on 16 October,[5] the first of five defeats in seven matches, but an 11-match unbeaten run followed and a 3–0 win over Leeds United on 3 January took Wolves six points clear at the top of the division. Promotion was secured by a 3–3 draw at Charlton Athletic on 2 May, despite Wolves struggling for form in the latter half of the campaign and eventually finishing 10 points behind champions Queens Park Rangers.[6]
Squad edit
- Substitute appearances indicated in brackets
| Pos. | Nat. | Name | League | Milk Cup | FA Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| GK | ENG
|
Paul Bradshaw | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| GK | ENG
|
John Burridge | 42 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 46 | 0 |
| DF |  IRE
|
Hugh Atkinson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| DF | ENG
|
Bobby Coy | 15(3) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17(3) | 0 |
| DF | ENG
|
Alan Dodd | 27 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 29 | 3 |
| DF | ENG
|
Joe Gallagher | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| DF | ENG
|
Mike Hollifield | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| DF | ENG
|
John Humphrey | 42 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 46 | 3 |
| DF | ENG
|
Geoff Palmer | 40(1) | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 44(1) | 5 |
| DF | IRE
|
John Pender | 39 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 43 | 1 |
| DF |  SCO
|
Gordon Smith | 24(3) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 27(3) | 2 |
| MF | ENG
|
Paul Butler | 1(7) | 0 | 0(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(9) | 0 |
| MF | ENG
|
Ian Cartwright | 7(2) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7(2) | 1 |
| MF | ENG
|
Peter Daniel | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| MF | ENG
|
Kenny Hibbitt | 27(4) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 30(4) | 3 |
| MF | SCO
|
Billy Kellock | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 |
| MF | IRE
|
Anthony Kernan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| MF | ENG
|
Mick Matthews | 40 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 44 | 5 |
| MF | ENG
|
Dale Rudge | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| MF | ENG
|
Dave Wintersgill | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| FW | ENG
|
Wayne Clarke | 38(1) | 12 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 41(1) | 12 |
| FW | IRE
|
John Croke | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| FW | ENG
|
Mel Eves | 40 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 44 | 19 |
| FW | SCO
|
Andy Gray | 33 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 36 | 10 |
| FW | ENG
|
Billy Livingstone | 10(1) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11(1) | 3 |
| FW | ENG
|
John Richards | 2(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2(2) | 0 |
Second Division edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Queens Park Rangers (C, P) | 42 | 26 | 7 | 9 | 77 | 36 | +41 | 85 | Promotion to the First Division |
| 2 | Wolverhampton Wanderers (P) | 42 | 20 | 15 | 7 | 68 | 44 | +24 | 75 | |
| 3 | Leicester City (P) | 42 | 20 | 10 | 12 | 72 | 44 | +28 | 70 | |
| 4 | Fulham | 42 | 20 | 9 | 13 | 64 | 47 | +17 | 69 | |
| 5 | Newcastle United | 42 | 18 | 13 | 11 | 75 | 53 | +22 | 67 |
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted
Results edit
Second Division edit
| 28 August 1982 1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–1 | Blackburn Rovers | Wolverhampton |
Eves  48', 77' |
Garner 23' |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 15,605 |
| 31 August 1982 2 | Chelsea | 0–0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | London |
| Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 14,192 |
| 4 September 1982 3 | Leeds United | 0–0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Leeds |
| Stadium: Elland Road Attendance: 16,462 |
| 7 September 1982 4 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 5–0 | Charlton Athletic | Wolverhampton |
| Eves 5' Gray 41'Palmer 50' (pen.)Clarke 80'Matthews 85' |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 13,063 |
| 11 September 1982 5 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–0 | Barnsley | Wolverhampton |
| Humphrey 60' Eves 65' |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 15,065 |
| 18 September 1982 6 | Bolton Wanderers | 0–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Bolton |
| Livingstone 85' |
Stadium: Burnden Park Attendance: 9264 |
| 25 September 1982 7 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–0 | Rotherham United | Wolverhampton |
| Clarke 3' Humphrey 69' |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 16,377 |
| 2 October 1982 8 | Carlisle United | 0–2 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Carlisle |
| Smith 4' Livingstone 36' |
Stadium: Brunton Park Attendance: 7723 |
| 9 October 1982 9 | Sheffield Wednesday | 0–0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Sheffield |
| Stadium: Hillsborough Attendance: 21,519 |
| 16 October 1982 10 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0–3 | Leicester City | Wolverhampton |
| Wilson 29' Lineker 34'English 89' |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 15,782 |
| 30 October 1982 11 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–1 | Derby County | Wolverhampton |
| Palmer 41' (pen.) Gray 55' |
Wilson 61' |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 13,802 |
| 2 November 1982 12 | Cambridge United | 2–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Cambridge |
| Lockhart 34' Reilly 76' |
Eves 89' |
Stadium: Abbey Stadium Attendance: 4571 |
| 6 November 1982 13 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3–0 | Grimsby Town | Wolverhampton |
| Gray 15' Eves 46'Clarke 62' |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 12,701 |
| 13 November 1982 14 | Oldham Athletic | 4–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Oldham |
| Ryan 15' Wylde 50', 77', 86' |
Hibbitt 65' |
Stadium: Boundary Park Attendance: 7962 |
| 20 November 1982 15 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–4 | Fulham | Wolverhampton |
| Clarke 10' Gray 41' |
Lewington 26' Davies 59', 73'Wilson 85' |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 14,447 |
| 27 November 1982 16 | Crystal Palace | 3–4 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | London |
| Cannon 2' Jones 4'Hinshelwood 55' |
Matthews 6', 72' Clarke 33'Gray 42' |
Stadium: Selhurst Park Attendance: 10,225 |
| 4 December 1982 17 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 4–0 | Middlesbrough | Wolverhampton |
| Eves 2', 31' Cartwright 20'Dodd 83' |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 11,854 |
| 11 December 1982 18 | Newcastle United | 1–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Newcastle upon Tyne |
| Wharton 6' |
Eves 16' |
Stadium: St James' Park Attendance: 19,485 |
| 18 December 1982 19 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 4–0 | Queens Park Rangers | Wolverhampton |
| Humphrey 51' Clarke 74'Palmer 78' (pen.)Dodd 89' |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 15,423 |
| 27 December 1982 20 | Shrewsbury Town | 0–2 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Shrewsbury |
| Clarke 34', 55' |
Stadium: Gay Meadow Attendance: 13,336 |
| 28 December 1982 21 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–0 | Burnley | Wolverhampton |
| Eves 70' Gray 89' |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 21,961 |
| 1 January 1983 22 | Fulham | 1–3 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | London |
| Lewington 38' |
Pender 26' Clarke 45'Eves 76' |
Stadium: Craven Cottage Attendance: 17,196 |
| 3 January 1983 23 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3–0 | Leeds United | Wolverhampton |
| Clarke 32' Gray 70'Eves 84' |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 22,567 |
| 15 January 1983 24 | Blackburn Rovers | 2–2 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Blackburn |
| Branagan 31' Keeley 44' |
Matthews 55' Dodd 62' |
Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 7441 |
| 22 January 1983 25 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–1 | Chelsea | Wolverhampton |
| Eves 5' Clarke 72' |
Pates 38' |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 19,533 |
| 5 February 1983 26 | Barnsley | 2–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Barnsley |
| Banks 15' Parker 88' |
Smith 12' |
Stadium: Oakwell Attendance: 13,575 |
| 12 February 1983 27 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–1 | Carlisle United | Wolverhampton |
| Eves 45' Livingstone 89' |
Bannon 15' |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 13,171 |
| 26 February 1983 28 | Leicester City | 5–0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Leicester |
| Lynex 15', 39' A. Smith 29'Lineker 59'Daly 74' |
Stadium: Filbert Street Attendance: 13,530 |
| 1 March 1983 29 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–0 | Sheffield Wednesday | Wolverhampton |
| Clarke 25' (pen.) |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 16,656 |
| 5 March 1983 30 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–1 | Cambridge United | Wolverhampton |
| Eves 76' |
Mayo 87' |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 13,204 |
| 12 March 1983 31 | Derby County | 1–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Derby |
| Swindlehurst 33' |
Kellock 77' |
Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 17,644 |
| 19 March 1983 32 | Grimsby Town | 1–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Cleethorpes |
| Waters 21' (pen.) |
Eves 50' |
Stadium: Blundell Park Attendance: 7624 |
| 26 March 1983 33 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0–0 | Oldham Athletic | Wolverhampton |
| Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 12,940 |
| 2 April 1983 34 | Burnley | 0–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Burnley |
| Palmer 7' |
Stadium: Turf Moor Attendance: 9593 |
| 4 April 1983 35 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–2 | Shrewsbury Town | Wolverhampton |
| Palmer 13' (pen.) Eves 16' |
Bates 36', 82' |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 17,509 |
| 9 April 1983 36 | Rotherham United | 1–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Rotherham |
| Seasman 59' |
Hibbitt 6' |
Stadium: Millmoor Attendance: 7286 |
| 16 April 1983 37 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0–0 | Bolton Wanderers | Wolverhampton |
| Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 12,723 |
| 23 April 1983 38 | Middlesbrough | 0–0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Middlesbrough |
| Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 10,314 |
| 30 April 1983 39 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–0 | Crystal Palace | Wolverhampton |
| Gray 52' |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 12,523 |
| 2 May 1983 40 | Charlton Athletic | 3–3 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | London |
| Smith 55' White 57'Hales 67' |
Kellock 10', 23' Eves 33' |
Stadium: The Valley Attendance: 7935 |
| 7 May 1983 41 | Queens Park Rangers | 2–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | London |
| Flanagan 21' Hazell 85' |
Gray 42' |
Stadium: Loftus Road Attendance: 19,854 |
| 14 May 1983 42 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–2 | Newcastle United | Wolverhampton |
| Matthews 25' Gray 39' |
McDonald 40' Varadi 44' |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 22,446 |
Milk Cup edit
| 5 October 1982 2nd Round 1st Leg | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–1 | Sunderland | Wolverhampton |
| Eves 40' |
Rowell 6' (pen.) |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 13,662 |
| 27 October 1982 2nd Round 2nd Leg | Sunderland | 5–0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Sunderland |
| Chisholm 1', 10' Hindmarch 9'Rowell 16'McCoist 55' |
Stadium: Roker Park Attendance: 11,091 |
FA Cup edit
| 8 January 1983 3rd Round | Tranmere Rovers | 0–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Birkenhead |
| Hibbitt 69' |
Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 10,803 |
| 29 January 1983 4th Round | Aston Villa | 1–0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Birmingham |
| Withe 20' |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 43,121 |
References edit
- ^ "Wolves are saved by last-minute deal". The Times. London. 31 July 1982. p. 17.
- ^ Tossell 2012, p. 229
- ^ Hawkins 2022, p. 103
- ^ Hawkins 2022, p. 107
- ^ Hawkins 2022, p. 109
- ^ Hawkins 2022, p. 111
- ^ Rothmans 1983-84, pp. 396–398
- ^ a b c wolvescompletehistory.co.uk - 1982/83 Second Division
- Bibliography
- Tossell, David (2012). In Sunshine Or In Shadow: A Journey Through the Life of Derek Dougan. Pitch. ISBN 978-1-908051-39-4.
- Hawkins, Kirstie (2022). A Marriage Made In Football. Amazon. ISBN 9798839490499.
- Rothmans Football Yearbook 1983-84 (Editor: Tony Williams). London: Queen Anne Press. ISBN 0-356-09727-7.