Wolves v Tottenham Hotspur, 22nd August 1970

Highlights of a First Division match at Molineux between Wolves and Tottenham Hotspur on 22nd August 1970.
As Kenneth Wolstenholme mentioned in his opening commentary, Wolves hadn't won in the league since 24th January the previous season. Their opening two matches of the 1970-71 season had resulted in defeats at Newcastle United and at home against Derby County. Spurs had also begun the season disappointingly with just one point from their opening two home matches a poor reward for Bill Nicholson's talented team.
Although Wolves continued their poor start to the season with defeat against Spurs, the collective quality ingrained in Bill McGarry's team helped arrest the long run of winless matches with a victory at Coventry City just days later. Although a heavy defeat at Nottingham Forest followed, Wolves then remained undefeated in nine matches, including a run of six successive victories, that lifted McGarry's team to sixth in the league ahead of their match at Liverpool ( • Liverpool v Wolves, 31... ).
The Wolves revival was underpinned by their traditional attacking strengths. Aided by the creativity of Dave Wagstaffe and Ken Hibbitt, striker Bobby Gould top-scored with 24 league and cup goals followed by Hugh Curran with 20 goals and Derek Dougan and midfielder Jim McCalliog with a total of 13 and 10 goals respectively for the season. It helped ensure a very impressive fourth placed finish at the end of the 1970-71 campaign, this despite a generally porous defence.
A further measure of success for Wolves that season came in the form of a Texaco Cup victory over Hearts in a two-legged final; a 3-1 away win (with two goals from Hugh Curran) preceded a 1-0 defeat in front of over 28,000 spectators at Molineux.
The 1970-71 season proved to be successful for Spurs also with a final position of third in the league and victory in the League Cup Final against Aston Villa. Striker Martin Chivers was integral to Nicholson's the success of team as he ended the season with a highly impressive 34 goals in 58 competitive matches.
Originally broadcast by BBC Match of the Day and subsequently re-shown on ESPN Classic.

[@TS50ER]

Good game that. Loved the kid running on to the pitch at the end getting a slight clip around the ear. Just think any kids aged 10 years old in that ground are now in their 60s.

[@michaeledwards8386]

The first first division match I ever saw. So many things to remember. For no publicly shareable rational reason, I'd picked Spurs as my team, and away to Wolves was the nearest they came to my home town of Shrewsbury (we've still never played Spurs). They had a repetition for attractive football and it was a great result. This was just after the Mexico World Cup at which Mullery and Peters had done well, but this was an early appearance for Steve Perryman and I've since heard that Mullery on his return was annoyed cos the manager, rather than congratulating him, told him about this new young and upcoming player. - I was 9 and like loads of other kids, ran on the pitch to join the players. I asked Roger Morgan for an autograph - no deal. It had rained heavily in the run-up to the match, but the water just drained off into the bottom of the terrace, which was below the level of the pitch. If this seems a more idealistic age, there was a good deal of fans chasing each other around at the other end, and the violence was to grow through the decade. Prompted to watch the again with the news of Martin Peters passing away. It was cool to cite him as your favourite player.

[@Pragwo1f]

My first ever Saturday league match. Thankfully the season got much better.

[@stevehegan3609]

My uncle Danny Hegan played in this game.

[@stevehegan3609]

Iain Botham Thanks

[@suffern63]

@@stevehegan3609 Do you know why he was able to play for Northern Ireland?I suppose a parent.

[@stevehegan3609]

suffern63 His father, my grandfather, was born in Derry , Northern Ireland.

[@basilvictorhomer]

Wierd how Wolstenholme, the commentator, blithely ignored the foul in the box on Gilzean right at the end that should have been a penalty. Even Gilzean hardly appealed desplte being hacked down from behind.

[@wildbill6826]

This is my footy era beginning and come a few months later & this looks like August '70, it be 1971 & Led Zep and a rock star like footballers. Here it looks like a bunch of Dads having a game of football. Its a smashing crisp bright bw telly picture. Warms my heart and tvs were simple. Rmbr the 60s & telly valves popping. You tuned into THREE channels & I miss the Test card. Memories..

[@BrianSmith-lj6ug]

COYS! ❤

[@myroseaccount]

This wouldn't pass muster in League 2 today

[@joekavanagh7171]

What a pathetic performance by Wolves. Couldn't string two passes together. They weren't helped by the retirement of the brilliant Peter Knowles for religious reasons

[@smashdalde9713]

Wolves are terrible in this..they get relegated that season? Arsenal's double year.

[@1061andy]

No actually we finished 4th

[@BrianSmith-lj6ug]

@@1061andy This is start of season that would of ended in 1971.Arsenal's double year.Spurs won the league Cup as well.

[@andrewhirsch6472]

The commentator with a toff's accent--sorry, just doesn't work. Glad it's rare nowadays.

[@paulmoseley2325]

You mean the fact that someone can actually speak the Queens English rather than the street claptrap we hear now. We are a sadly disappearing country.

[@peterturley1331]

@@paulmoseley2325 indeed.

[@peterturley1331]

You are referring to the late great Kenneth Wolstenholme. Educate yourself?!!

[@paulhollis8879]

Andrew Hirsch I’m glad your rather inane thinking isn’t that impressive. Innit bruv?

[@andrewhirsch6472]

@@peterturley1331 It was not an attack on Wolstenholme personally. Within his own limitations he did his job well; but the sport (any sport) is more interesting when the commentator(s) have played the game at a high level. Only a very small minority of top footballers speak or spoke with the royals' accent, and Wolstenholme was not one of them. Mind you, I would (if I could) gratefully listen to his stories of life in the wartime RAF, where his experiences were dearly-earned.