The visit of the Bantams in the opening stages of the Carling Cup – as the competition was known back then – provided Craddock with one of his greatest ever memories in a Wolves shirt, after he fired an unstoppable volley into the top corner from 20-yards, stunning everyone inside Molineux on that dark Wednesday evening in August.
Craddock’s memories of his greatest ever Wolves goal:
Although I don’t have many to choose from, my favourite goal I ever scored for Wolves has to be a volley against Bradford City at Molineux in the Carling Cup.
It was a first round match and we were 1-0 up at the time, as Freddy Eastwood had scored to put us in front. I was up for a corner because that’s the only reason I ever went into the opposition half. The ball came in but ended up going back out to the wing, and I was heading back out of the area.
However, I had pulled to the edge of the box – as you do – as I was trying to find some space in case the ball finds you. ‘Kights’ [Michael Kightly] had put the cross back in and it was headed out of the box to where I was.
I don’t take a touch – it’s not about taking a touch – I just think ‘I’m going to smash this as hard as I can’ and it’s either going to clear the stadium and end up in the Asda car park over the back, or it’s going in the top corner. Thankfully, this time it went in the top corner.
At the time, I actually thought it was going to be my last game for Wolves because before the match I’d been told I was going on loan to Stoke, so I already knew I was leaving. But as it turned out, I came back and had another five great years at the club.
Think you can name the team which played for Wolves in that game against Bradford? Take the latest Wolves Trivia quiz by clicking here.
