2nd September 1889: Molineux opens
In 1889, O.E. McGregor sold the Molineux Grounds to the Northampton Brewery who subsequently rented its use to Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club. As a result of this lease, Molineux Pleasure Park was renovated into the first stadium to be used exclusively as a ground for a football team. After opening on the 2nd of September, Molineux played host to its first league game on the 7th of September – a 2-0 win over Notts County, a game that attracted a crowd of 4,000 spectators.
Molineux celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2014 and remains home to the mighty Wolves to this day. During this period, the stadium has been loyal to the club throughout its rollercoaster of a journey – from back-to-back first division titles in 1959, to a royal visit in 1994, and even players having to train on the car park due to a lack of finances in the 1980s.
8th September 1888: Wolves play first Football League game
In the first round of fixtures of the newly created football league, Wolverhampton Wanderers drew 1-1 with Aston Villa on the 8th of September 1888. The Football League, created in April of that year, was the first formally organised league competition within England and compromised of twelve founding clubs. Wolves would go onto finish in third place in the opening season, twelve points behind runaway winners, Preston North End.
14th September 1891: Wolves awarded the first ever penalty of the Football League
The first penalty kick awarded in the Football League was converted by John Heath in a 5-0 home win against visitors Accrington Stanley on the 14th of September 1891. The 1891/1982 season was the first season in which penalty kicks were to be awarded for serious fouls that were committed within the sixteen-yard box.
8th September 1979: Wolves sign Andy Gray for a then club and British record transfer fee
On the 8th of September 1979 Wolves signed striker Andy Gray from rivals Aston Villa for a then club and British record transfer fee close to £1.5 million. This was a considerably higher transfer fee than the previous club record, which was close to £150,000 for Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper, Paul Bradshaw. Andy Gray would go onto make 133 appearances for Wolves, scoring thirty-eight goals for the club, most notably the winning goal in the 1980 League Cup Final against European champions, Nottingham Forest.
26th September 1998: Steve Bull scores final goal for Wolves
On the 26th of September 1998 Steve Bull scored his final goal for Wolves in his 468th appearance for the club in a 1-0 win over Bury. Bully scored a club record 306 goals for Wolves and would go onto make a further six appearances for Wolves, four of them being substitute appearances following knee surgery. Bull would retire at the end of the 1998/1999 season, after a legendary thirteen years at the club.
-Louis Sharma
