Wolves are saddened to learn of the passing of former midfielder Martin Patching at the age of 65.
Patching made just over a century of appearances in gold and black during a four-year spell in the first-team, scoring 11 times for the club, having progressed through the youth set-up at Wolves and playing in the 1976 FA Youth Cup final.
Born in Rotherham, Patching grew up as a Wolves supporter and signed at Molineux on youth terms in 1973. A former England schoolboy and youth international, he made his senior Wolves debut two years later, as he came off the bench in a 5-1 home thrashing of Sheffield United in the October.
During his time at Molineux, Patching was regularly named as a substitute, as he backed up the likes of Kenny Hibbitt and Steve Daley, although he became a starter during the Division Two season of 1976/77 following the departure of legendary skipper Mike Bailey.
Patching helped Wolves claim promotion back into the First Division following just one season in the second tier but saw his time on the pitch limited once again as the team competed in the top flight.
Having featured in old gold between the 1974 and 1980 League Cup wins, Patching departed Wolves before the second of those titles, joining Graham Taylor’s Watford in September 1979, before going on to feature for clubs including Northampton Town, Dunstable, Staines Town and Hendon.
Following his retirement as a player, he turned to scouting, where he worked for former club Watford as well as Nottingham Forest, as well as part-time football reporting.
Remembering Patching, his former teammate John Richards, current chairman of the Wolves Former Players’ Association, said: “Martin was very young when he broke into the team. He was about 18 when he made his debut for us, but he was a really talented youngster.
“As a player, Martin was very strong, very talented, a powerful midfielder and a big lad. It was just a shame that his chances were restricted because we had Steve Daley, Kenny Hibbitt and Willie Carr in those positions already.
“As a person, he was very quiet and very unassuming, but a very nice and polite lad. He worked hard with his training and just got on with it. He wasn’t a ‘lad about town’, he was just a real down-to-earth lad and talented footballer.”
In 2006, Patching – the father of current Luton Town forward Cauley Woodrow – underwent lifesaving surgery on a brain tumour having collapsed on his way to watch Watford’s play-off final victory over Leeds United. He was diagnosed with a second tumour two years later.
Richards added: “Unfortunately, I’ve not had contact with Martin for many years now after he moved back to Rotherham, but I was made aware that he was diagnosed with a brain tumour about 15 years ago.
“All his former teammates have good memories of Martin, and it’s a very sad moment for those of us who were at Wolves during the late 70s, even if we didn’t play with him for that long.
“Sixty five is no age at all, so he’s going to be a massive loss to his family and friends, and I offer our condolences to Martin’s loved ones on behalf of Wolves and the Former Players’ Association.”
The thoughts of everyone at Wolves are with Martin’s family and friends at this sad time.
