Selecting the players, games and kits from Old Gold history he deems to be the most underrated is Former Express & Star reporter and creator of wolvesheroes.com, David Instone.
Goalkeeper | Michael Oakes
Oakes was sandwiched between 1990s record-breaker Mike Stowell and 21st-century rising star Matt Murray as Wolves number one but let no one down. Undemonstrative as keepers go, the former Villa man was assured and consistent and possessed a terrific kick with his left foot.
Defender | Romain Saiss
In a team of stars, Saiss was part of the vital ‘glue’. The Moroccan international exuded a quiet calm and offered balance with a left foot that broke up numerous opposition attacks and instigated many in the other direction, normally with a short pass to more offensively-minded team-mates.
Forward | Ray Crawford
This one is on the management rather than the Molineux faithful. Crawford was a legend at Ipswich and a success at Portsmouth but (like Hugh McIlmoyle, Bob Hatton and Frank Wignall) was moved on from Wolves quickly – in his case after 41 goals in 61 competitive games in a fading mid-1960s line-up.
Midfielder | Keith Andrews
Getting in the side ahead of Alex Rae, Paul Ince and Colin Cameron would be difficult for anyone, but was Andrews given the support and patience that home-grown players are usually granted by Wolves supporters? Probably not – nor by the management – and he and his talents disappeared elsewhere.
Manager | Sammy Champman
History will say he failed in a period of abject misery, but Molineux fortunes would have been worse still but for Chapman. His easy charm kept mid-1980s spirits up when they could have crashed through the floor and he bequeathed Wolves Andy Mutch, Vince Bartram, Tim Flowers, Micky Holmes and others.
Match | Ipswich 2-4 Wolves, 2003
Dave Jones’s Wolves, in their 2002/03 promotion triumph, were wobbling when they visited Ipswich on 19th February. They had won two of nine League games and crashed 4-1 at relegation-bound Brighton. But two Kenny Miller goals, one by George Ndah and a Lee Naylor gem brought three points and turned the tide.
Season | 2006/07
Despite three promotions and 11 Premier League campaigns since, we must still remember the overachievement of 2006/07. They ultimately lost in the play-offs but they punched hugely above their weight by finishing fifth, such had been the mess MM (that was Mick McCarthy but COULD have stood for Merlin The Magician) had inherited.
Shirt | 1994/95 home
Bearing the town crest (Wolverhampton wasn’t granted city status until 2000) and one of its biggest employers, the shirt the team first wore in 1994 was a classic. The ‘underrated’ aspect? Well, Wolves lost in the 1995 play-offs and FA Cup quarter-finals, so it isn’t seen as a ’champion’ jersey.
This article originally featured in Wolves' official 2025/26 matchday programme. Last season's programmes are still available to purchase online through retailers Curtis Sports.
