1982–83 Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. season
1982–83 season | |
---|---|
Chairman | Derek Dougan |
Manager | ![]() |
Stadium | Molineux |
Football League Second Division | 2nd (promoted) |
Milk Cup | Second round |
FA Cup | Fourth round |
Top goalscorer | League: Mel Eves (18) All: Mel Eves (19) |
Highest home attendance | 22,567 v Leeds United (Division Two, 3 January 1983) |
Lowest home attendance | 11,856 v Middlesbrough (Division Two, 4 December 1982) |
Average home league attendance | 15,683 |
The 1982–83 season was the 84th of competitive league football in the history of Wolverhampton Wanderers. They finished runners-up in the Second Division to win promotion back to the First Division after one season away.
Season summary
[edit]Wolves were relegated from the First Division at the end of the 1981–82 season and went into receivership as financial difficulties following construction of the new John Ireland stand caught up with them. They came close to liquidation but were saved at the eleventh hour by a consortium fronted by former player Derek Dougan.[1]
Dougan sacked manager Ian Greaves and replaced him with former Wolves teammate Graham Hawkins.[2] Hawkins named Jim Barron as his assistant and put Frank Upton in charge of the youth team with a brief that young players would be important to the first team due to the club's tight budget.[3] Indeed, three teenagers – Dave Wintersgill, Billy Livingstone and Paul Butler – made their debuts against Blackburn Rovers on the opening day of the new season.[4]
Wolves were unbeaten for the first 10 matches and also went 817 minutes without conceding a league goal. Both runs were ended by Leicester City on 16 October,[5] the first of five defeats in seven matches, but an 11-match unbeaten run followed and a 3–0 win over Leeds United on 3 January took Wolves six points clear at the top of the division. Promotion was secured by a 3–3 draw at Charlton Athletic on 2 May, despite Wolves struggling for form in the latter half of the campaign and eventually finishing 10 points behind champions Queens Park Rangers.[6]
Squad
[edit]- Substitute appearances indicated in brackets
Pos. | Nat. | Name | League | Milk Cup | FA Cup | Total | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
GK | ![]() |
Paul Bradshaw | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
GK | ![]() |
John Burridge | 42 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 46 | 0 |
DF | ![]() |
Hugh Atkinson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
DF | ![]() |
Bobby Coy | 15(3) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17(3) | 0 |
DF | ![]() |
Alan Dodd | 27 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 29 | 3 |
DF | ![]() |
Joe Gallagher | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
DF | ![]() |
Mike Hollifield | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
DF | ![]() |
John Humphrey | 42 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 46 | 3 |
DF | ![]() |
Geoff Palmer | 40(1) | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 44(1) | 5 |
DF | ![]() |
John Pender | 39 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 43 | 1 |
DF | ![]() |
Gordon Smith | 24(3) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 27(3) | 2 |
MF | ![]() |
Paul Butler | 1(7) | 0 | 0(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(9) | 0 |
MF | ![]() |
Ian Cartwright | 7(2) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7(2) | 1 |
MF | ![]() |
Peter Daniel | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
MF | ![]() |
Kenny Hibbitt | 27(4) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 30(4) | 3 |
MF | ![]() |
Billy Kellock | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 |
MF | ![]() |
Anthony Kernan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
MF | ![]() |
Mick Matthews | 40 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 44 | 5 |
MF | ![]() |
Dale Rudge | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
MF | ![]() |
Dave Wintersgill | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
FW | ![]() |
Wayne Clarke | 38(1) | 12 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 41(1) | 12 |
FW | ![]() |
John Croke | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
FW | ![]() |
Mel Eves | 40 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 44 | 19 |
FW | ![]() |
Andy Gray | 33 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 36 | 10 |
FW | ![]() |
Billy Livingstone | 10(1) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11(1) | 3 |
FW | ![]() |
John Richards | 2(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2(2) | 0 |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Queens Park Rangers (C, P) | 42 | 26 | 7 | 9 | 77 | 36 | +41 | 85 | Promotion to the First Division |
2 | Wolverhampton Wanderers (P) | 42 | 20 | 15 | 7 | 68 | 44 | +24 | 75 | |
3 | Leicester City (P) | 42 | 20 | 10 | 12 | 72 | 44 | +28 | 70 | |
4 | Fulham | 42 | 20 | 9 | 13 | 64 | 47 | +17 | 69 | |
5 | Newcastle United | 42 | 18 | 13 | 11 | 75 | 53 | +22 | 67 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted
Results
[edit]Second Division
[edit]28 August 1982 1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–1 | Blackburn Rovers | Wolverhampton |
Eves ![]() |
Garner ![]() |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 15,605 |
31 August 1982 2 | Chelsea | 0–0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | London |
Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 14,192 |
4 September 1982 3 | Leeds United | 0–0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Leeds |
Stadium: Elland Road Attendance: 16,462 |
7 September 1982 4 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 5–0 | Charlton Athletic | Wolverhampton |
Eves ![]() Gray ![]() Palmer ![]() Clarke ![]() Matthews ![]() |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 13,063 |
11 September 1982 5 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–0 | Barnsley | Wolverhampton |
Humphrey ![]() Eves ![]() |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 15,065 |
18 September 1982 6 | Bolton Wanderers | 0–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Bolton |
Livingstone ![]() |
Stadium: Burnden Park Attendance: 9264 |
25 September 1982 7 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–0 | Rotherham United | Wolverhampton |
Clarke ![]() Humphrey ![]() |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 16,377 |
2 October 1982 8 | Carlisle United | 0–2 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Carlisle |
Smith ![]() Livingstone ![]() |
Stadium: Brunton Park Attendance: 7723 |
9 October 1982 9 | Sheffield Wednesday | 0–0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Sheffield |
Stadium: Hillsborough Attendance: 21,519 |
16 October 1982 10 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0–3 | Leicester City | Wolverhampton |
Wilson ![]() Lineker ![]() English ![]() |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 15,782 |
30 October 1982 11 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–1 | Derby County | Wolverhampton |
Palmer ![]() Gray ![]() |
Wilson ![]() |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 13,802 |
2 November 1982 12 | Cambridge United | 2–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Cambridge |
Lockhart ![]() Reilly ![]() |
Eves ![]() |
Stadium: Abbey Stadium Attendance: 4571 |
6 November 1982 13 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3–0 | Grimsby Town | Wolverhampton |
Gray ![]() Eves ![]() Clarke ![]() |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 12,701 |
13 November 1982 14 | Oldham Athletic | 4–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Oldham |
Ryan ![]() Wylde ![]() |
Hibbitt ![]() |
Stadium: Boundary Park Attendance: 7962 |
20 November 1982 15 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–4 | Fulham | Wolverhampton |
Clarke ![]() Gray ![]() |
Lewington ![]() Davies ![]() Wilson ![]() |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 14,447 |
27 November 1982 16 | Crystal Palace | 3–4 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | London |
Cannon ![]() Jones ![]() Hinshelwood ![]() |
Matthews ![]() Clarke ![]() Gray ![]() |
Stadium: Selhurst Park Attendance: 10,225 |
4 December 1982 17 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 4–0 | Middlesbrough | Wolverhampton |
Eves ![]() Cartwright ![]() Dodd ![]() |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 11,854 |
11 December 1982 18 | Newcastle United | 1–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Newcastle upon Tyne |
Wharton ![]() |
Eves ![]() |
Stadium: St James' Park Attendance: 19,485 |
18 December 1982 19 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 4–0 | Queens Park Rangers | Wolverhampton |
Humphrey ![]() Clarke ![]() Palmer ![]() Dodd ![]() |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 15,423 |
27 December 1982 20 | Shrewsbury Town | 0–2 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Shrewsbury |
Clarke ![]() |
Stadium: Gay Meadow Attendance: 13,336 |
28 December 1982 21 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–0 | Burnley | Wolverhampton |
Eves ![]() Gray ![]() |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 21,961 |
1 January 1983 22 | Fulham | 1–3 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | London |
Lewington ![]() |
Pender ![]() Clarke ![]() Eves ![]() |
Stadium: Craven Cottage Attendance: 17,196 |
3 January 1983 23 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3–0 | Leeds United | Wolverhampton |
Clarke ![]() Gray ![]() Eves ![]() |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 22,567 |
15 January 1983 24 | Blackburn Rovers | 2–2 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Blackburn |
Branagan ![]() Keeley ![]() |
Matthews ![]() Dodd ![]() |
Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 7441 |
22 January 1983 25 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–1 | Chelsea | Wolverhampton |
Eves ![]() Clarke ![]() |
Pates ![]() |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 19,533 |
5 February 1983 26 | Barnsley | 2–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Barnsley |
Banks ![]() Parker ![]() |
Smith ![]() |
Stadium: Oakwell Attendance: 13,575 |
12 February 1983 27 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–1 | Carlisle United | Wolverhampton |
Eves ![]() Livingstone ![]() |
Bannon ![]() |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 13,171 |
26 February 1983 28 | Leicester City | 5–0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Leicester |
Lynex ![]() A. Smith ![]() Lineker ![]() Daly ![]() |
Stadium: Filbert Street Attendance: 13,530 |
1 March 1983 29 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–0 | Sheffield Wednesday | Wolverhampton |
Clarke ![]() |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 16,656 |
5 March 1983 30 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–1 | Cambridge United | Wolverhampton |
Eves ![]() |
Mayo ![]() |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 13,204 |
12 March 1983 31 | Derby County | 1–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Derby |
Swindlehurst ![]() |
Kellock ![]() |
Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 17,644 |
19 March 1983 32 | Grimsby Town | 1–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Cleethorpes |
Waters ![]() |
Eves ![]() |
Stadium: Blundell Park Attendance: 7624 |
26 March 1983 33 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0–0 | Oldham Athletic | Wolverhampton |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 12,940 |
2 April 1983 34 | Burnley | 0–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Burnley |
Palmer ![]() |
Stadium: Turf Moor Attendance: 9593 |
4 April 1983 35 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–2 | Shrewsbury Town | Wolverhampton |
Palmer ![]() Eves ![]() |
Bates ![]() |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 17,509 |
9 April 1983 36 | Rotherham United | 1–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Rotherham |
Seasman ![]() |
Hibbitt ![]() |
Stadium: Millmoor Attendance: 7286 |
16 April 1983 37 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0–0 | Bolton Wanderers | Wolverhampton |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 12,723 |
23 April 1983 38 | Middlesbrough | 0–0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Middlesbrough |
Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 10,314 |
30 April 1983 39 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–0 | Crystal Palace | Wolverhampton |
Gray ![]() |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 12,523 |
2 May 1983 40 | Charlton Athletic | 3–3 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | London |
Smith ![]() White ![]() Hales ![]() |
Kellock ![]() Eves ![]() |
Stadium: The Valley Attendance: 7935 |
7 May 1983 41 | Queens Park Rangers | 2–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | London |
Flanagan ![]() Hazell ![]() |
Gray ![]() |
Stadium: Loftus Road Attendance: 19,854 |
14 May 1983 42 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–2 | Newcastle United | Wolverhampton |
Matthews ![]() Gray ![]() |
McDonald ![]() Varadi ![]() |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 22,446 |
Milk Cup
[edit]5 October 1982 2nd Round 1st Leg | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–1 | Sunderland | Wolverhampton |
Eves ![]() |
Rowell ![]() |
Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 13,662 |
27 October 1982 2nd Round 2nd Leg | Sunderland | 5–0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Sunderland |
Chisholm ![]() Hindmarch ![]() Rowell ![]() McCoist ![]() |
Stadium: Roker Park Attendance: 11,091 |
FA Cup
[edit]8 January 1983 3rd Round | Tranmere Rovers | 0–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Birkenhead |
Hibbitt ![]() |
Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 10,803 |
29 January 1983 4th Round | Aston Villa | 1–0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Birmingham |
Withe ![]() |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 43,121 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Wolves are saved by last-minute deal". The Times. London. 31 July 1982. p. 17.
- ^ Tossell 2012, p. 229
- ^ Hawkins 2022, p. 103
- ^ Hawkins 2022, p. 107
- ^ Hawkins 2022, p. 109
- ^ Hawkins 2022, p. 111
- ^ Rothmans 1983-84, pp. 396–398
- ^ a b c wolvescompletehistory.co.uk - 1982/83 Second Division
- Bibliography
- Tossell, David (2012). In Sunshine Or In Shadow: A Journey Through the Life of Derek Dougan. Pitch. ISBN 978-1-908051-39-4.
- Hawkins, Kirstie (2022). A Marriage Made In Football. Amazon. ISBN 9798839490499.
- Rothmans Football Yearbook 1983-84 (Editor: Tony Williams). London: Queen Anne Press. ISBN 0-356-09727-7.