Former Wolves goalkeeper Gary Pierce has sadly passed away at the age of 74.
Pierce is known best for stepping in to replace Phil Parkes during the 1974 League Cup final and helped Wolves to victory over Manchester City at Wembley, earning the club the trophy for the first time.
Born in Bury, Pierce began his senior career with Huddersfield Town, who he left to join Wolves in 1973, providing competition for Parkes and making 111 appearances.
Having debuted against Newcastle United soon after signing, Pierce made 17 appearances that first season, including that special afternoon at Wembley, which fell on his 23rd birthday.
Once Parkes suffered an ankle injury heading into the final, Pierce took responsibility between the sticks and produced a series of stunning saves to help Wolves to a 2-1 victory over City. Manager Bill McGarry’s embrace of his goalkeeper on the Wembley pitch at full-time is iconic.
The stopper’s busiest campaign was that of 1976/77, when he was an ever-present as the Old Gold enjoyed promotion back to the First Division under Sammy Chung – one of two promotions in his career.
Pierce’s Wolves spell came to an end in 1979 when he joined Barnsley of the Third Division, before seeing out his Football League career at Blackpool in 1984.
A popular member of the Wolves dressing room, Pierce returned to the West Midlands regularly to attend Former Players Association events and was at Molineux last March to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the club’s 1974 success.
Ahead of tomorrow’s Premier League fixture with Brentford at Molineux a minute’s applause will take place in Pierce's memory.
The thoughts of everyone at Wolves are with Gary’s family and friends at this sad time.
