Here are a selection of fans' tributes to the late Bill Shorthouse, who died on Saturday at the age of 86.
Supporters can send their messages to info@wolves.co.uk and they will also be passed on to Bill's family.
MESSAGES
On behalf of the Wolves Supporters Club (Malta) please convey my sympathy to Bill Shorthouse`s family on his death last Saturday.
While remembering him as a regular in the great 50s side, met him in 2005 at the Club Shop when eight Wolves Legends were present for a signing session of the book Wolves: The Glory Years by my friend David Instone.
I was in seventh heaven talking to these Wolves stars of yesteryear and Bill like all the others was a true gentleman. He will never be forgotten and may he rest in peace.
Alfred Camilleri
(Malta Wolves President)
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Pure Old Gold, such strength of character, resolve pride loyalty. Not seen so much nowadays
Pity he could not have hung on bit longer to see the current crop of youngster come through.
God bless.
Sincere condolences to the Shorthouse family.
Des Larcombe
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To the family of Bill Shorthouse..
I first listened to Wolves on the radio at the age of eight, I am now 65.
Bill Shorthouse and the rest of that Wolves team got me hooked.
To me the pleasure and interest they created was unbelievable and Bill Shorthouse played a big part in that.
Those memories will be with me hopefully for many years to come.
Nigel Pearce.
Penzance, Cornwall.
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I have been a Wolves follower since 1945 and Bill figures big in my memories.
He was hard, strong and never let Wolves down.
He would be considered old fashioned now but how I wish we had his like.
He was the rock upon which the fabulous Wolves were built.
My sympathy to his family.
Don Fisher.
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I'm too young to remember him as I'm only 15 but my grandad has told me all about him and I wish I was around to see him play.
R.I.P Bill, legend.
Lee Bourne.
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I am too young to have had the privilege of watching these Wolves greats. Unfortunately, year by year another legend is sadly missed.
Could I suggest something like a mural on the Subway or in or outside the ground to acknowledge one of , if not the greatest team from any English decade.
Kind regards,
Robert White.
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A Wolves legend - and one of my heroes when I lived in Wolverhampton as a lad. An honest player - utterly reliable - and gave his all for the Wolves in every game.
My condolences to his family and friends.
Vic Cox (Wolverhampton born and bred)
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Bill Shorthouse was, I recall, a no-frills, no-nonsense half back who was always, inevitably, somewhat in Billy Wright's shadow; dependable, he represented the tradition of fine Wolves' half-backs instituted by Stan Cullis just after the war. They were the fulcrum from which Mullen and Hancocks (they just don't make them like that anymore) raided out wide, and opened up the best defences.Wolves owe Bill and his like a debt of duty and loyalty that can never be repayed. Mike Norgrove, Exmouth.
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I never met Bill Shorthouse. I never listened to him talking about his time at Wolves. But I did see him play football in the old gold and black and I knew him from that. As well as being a great footballer, he was a man of his time; a hard, uncompromising gentleman of a player who, like so many of his generation, defended for his club in the same way that he had defended his country.
Those of us from that generation are often questioned about the relevance of those days and those heroes. Playing in the second tier of English football Wolves are nevertheless blessed with huge support worldwide and near capacity attendances by people who never saw Bill or his contemporaries play in those golden days of the 1950s. The club should never forget that that support and those crowds are the legacy left behind by players like Bill Shorthouse. They were never made rich by football in those times, but they have made us rich in the aspirations and traditions of a great club. Players like Bill also fuelled the high expectations and the depth of the disappointments of more recent years. They moulded the typical Wolves fan who like few others can go from one moment of elation to plumb the depths of despair, who can raise a hero so high and yet discard him so quickly. Any player who comes to this club will feel the weight of those expectations and can so easily misunderstand them. All that we ever ask of a player is that, like Bill Shorthouse, he will put in the effort.
It is always sad to hear about the passing of yet another hero, but what Bill Shorthouse gave us will live on.
My thoughts are with his family.
FJH.
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My father watched Bill many times and I was fortunate to see him play in his later years. He graced Molineux in the fabulous 50's teams. A great player and a great gentleman. RIP. Condolences and sympathy to his family.
Regards,
Robert Downes. Billericay, but previously Broseley, Shropshire.
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BILL WAS IN THE TEAM WHEN I FIRST SAW AND FELL IN LOVE WITH WOLVES,ON BLACK &WHITE TELEVISON,A GREAT PLAYER IN A GREAT TEAM! GOD BLESS BILL JOIN ALL THE WOLVES PAST LEGENDS IN HEAVEN! SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO ALL BILL,S FAMILY KEN TERRELL ESSEX
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Saw him play many times a great defender very reliable and always gave 100%.
Will be sadly missed a great gentleman God Bless.Wonderful servant to Wolves.R I P.
Arno 297
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I wasn't born until 1961 but when my Dad and Granddad and I sat with a pint in the late seventies they would often talk about that great team of the fifties and Bills name would always crop up. A local lad and very much a local hero. If the aforementioned were still alive today I'm sure they'd raise a glass or two to him.
Ron Richards
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I never saw him play.but my dad used to rave about him. That's good enough for me. I'm a fan of over 40 years and have watched some greats at the Molineux, but I missed our bill. God bless my son. RIP. Bob Siedlarczyk
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I have supported wolves all my 71 years and when I talk to friends here in Wakefield about the great Wolves teams after WW2 they have only heard of the likes of Wright, Hancock and Mullen. but we know don't we, the debt the club owes to the likes of Bill Shorthouse. Should have played for England, a great player RIP Bill
John Moran, Horbury, Wakefield Yorks
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May as a wolves fan of the club since i was achild im now 72 years old give my condolonces to bills family he was a living legend to the black and gold and will never be forgotten, as of the many who have gone before him. may he rest in peace he will be in my prayers at mass this sunday
from kath harrison peterborough
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I am a 26-year-old wolves fan, so obviously never saw Bill play, but I have always taken a big interest in the history of the club. The fact that Bill was a long term member of wolves's team during the glory years means that he should be held with the same respect that players such as Billy Wright & Steve Bull are with wolves fans. Older members of my family tell me how good a player he was, so we should be proud that not only a fine footballer, but also a war hero & by all accounts a very good man, played for wolves.
Rich
Featherstone
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Bill, you are a true Wolves legend, and a great loss. Commiserations to your family.
Rest in Peace.
Forever Wolves
Nick H
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I started supporting Wolves during the 1948-49 sason, the year they won the Cup.
Bill Shorthouse was the strong, reliable centre-half who made up the half-back line
between the two other Bills, Wright and Crook. He was an excellent defender in the
style of the time, hard in the tackle, good in the air and consistently steady against such
lively centre-forwards as Stan Mortensen, Trevor Ford, Nat Lofthouse and Jackie Milburn.
I have a picture of Bill, taken from the Daily Express, above the caption, 'tipped to be
England's next centre half' - and he should have been. After all, during that strange four
year hiatus between Neil Franklin and Billy Wright, when England tried eleven centre halves (one
of whom played for a Second Division team) Bill was first choice in one of the most exciting
teams in the First Division.When Billy Wright moved to the middle of defence, Bill was versatile
enough to play at left back, partnering Eddie Stuart, and proved himself against the best in Europe.
Rest in peace, Bill, you were a true Molineux Great.
Mike Thomas.
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My first game as a ten year old was against Arsenal At Molineux i sat along the white wall in the Waterloo Rd side of the pitch and Bill was playing at full back and at times was quite close to me and ive never forgot how powerful and strong he seemed to be and wouldnt give an inch to any body .Through the years i have followed Wolves and still have a season ticket but never seen anyone witha better attitude than him Rest in peace Bill ,David Stevens
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R.I.P Billy and thanks for the great memories Rest In Peace....
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A great player
A true professional
A people person
I enjoyed watching him play he always gave his best
Terry W
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I am too young to have seen the team that made Wolverhampton Wanderers what it is today. However I can still recall how my father would tell me of how great they all were and in particular how Bill never shirked from a tackle and how he led by example. After reading on his death his part in the Normandy landings it would seem that it was not as just a footballer he excelled and we should all learn from what this great man achieved. I send my condolences to his family because I lost my Dad in March and know what they must feel like at the moment. Just to finish I was disgusted to read that this great footballer never won a full England cap, which at that time given the club's standing in the world of football is disgraceful. Lloyd-Williams family, Bournemouth.
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I am in awe at the marvellous way that everyone is paying tribute to our Bill. We stood on the terraces in all weathers to cheer ourselves hoarse at the way Wolves handled the best of English and European talent in the 1950's. I recall when we scored 100+ goals two seasons on the trot, Bill was there to make sure we turned in an average of around 4 or 5 to 1 on the for's and against's goal tally. Don't forget also that they had to handle what must have appeared like a medicine ball to them when soggy wet and on those pitches Oh dear !! I don't think many of us envied them out there but we certainly loved every minute of the action. Bill will always be part of that team for me and let's hope, for his memory, that those glory days return soon. My sincere condolences to his wife and family in their sad loss, but you must feel VERY PROUD.
Ron Corfield ( now fron Devon )
