The defender, who was credited with scoring Forest’s single goal – although replays showed Kevin Foley was to be the player who bundled the ball past Wayne Hennessey, is one of several key men from that game to feature on the second episode of the Big Match Revisited.
Alongside hosts Mikey Burrows and Chris Iwelumo, who scored one of Wolves’ five goals that day, Stearman joins fellow scorers Michael Kightly and David Jones and others who featured in that match from 8pm this Monday on Wolves’ official YouTube channel, to reflect on the emphatic victory which kickstarted the push to the Premier League.
On being credited with Forest’s goal
“I’ve been reminded that I scored an own goal, but I just seem to think that it wasn’t me. It wasn’t my fault, I didn’t know whether that was the defender in me to deny, deny, deny.
“But talking to ‘Foles’ [Kevin Foley], he seems to have claimed it hasn’t he? So, I’m pleased about that.
“Have a good look at it and get VAR in. I seem to remember that it was a severe injustice of being credited with the own goal.”
On a night out in Glasgow following the match
“A couple of us lads went to the Old Firm derby after this match and if there was a night out planned, you had to win. There’s no two ways about it.
“Otherwise it would’ve got back to management and then you’d have seriously been under pressure.
“I hadn’t been to an Old Firm game before, so I knew we just had to win this game.”
On the 2008/09 season
“I just remember us having a good start to the season. We picked up a draw, won a few games and then – bang, we arrived.
“We played fantastically well, everything just seemed to hit the back of the net and we just went from strength to strength from there.
“I was pleased with the way this season went for me personally. The end result of us getting promoted was a fantastic result for us as a team, but I was really delighted with my performances personally.”
On being comfortable on the ball as a defender
“I think Mick liked it when it worked and then when it didn’t, I used to get an earful. I think he knew I was partial to the odd step-over or Cruyff and he just let me get on with it because we were doing well. But when it didn’t come off, I used to get it in the neck from him.
“As a player, I was comfortable on the ball and liked to bring the ball forward, do the odd Cruyff was something that was in my makeup. It used to come out in games.
“I think I ended up in the team of the year, so the Cruyff’s must have worked!”
The second edition of the must-see 90-minute Old Gold Club: Big Match Revisited premieres at 8pm on Monday on Wolves’ YouTube channel, before being available in the archive at tv.wolves.co.uk.
Big Match Revisited will be powered by Blyth Group, an industry-leading construction company driving investment and infrastructure across the UK.
