Wolverhampton Wanderers - Molineux Stadium

The first weekend of the New Year are often a joyous moment for football supports as they take away the stress and strain of domestic league football, and for those clubs who are either automatically propelled into the FA Cup Third Round, or have the distinction of beating several teams to earn their place, the oldest cup competition in the world can truly be a magnificent spectacle.

The third round was already was already alive and kicking and two days old, starting with Manchester City emphatic victory at Swindon Town. The previous day’s offering had seen Cambridge United produce a huge giant-killing at Newcastle United, whilst Kidderminster Harriers and Boreham Wood had also beaten off Football League opposition at home to Reading and AFC Wimbledon, respectively.

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Sheffield United Sunday, 9th January 2022

Sheffield United were hoping that, with some sheer luck, they could mirror a performance and result replicated by those teams who didn’t expect to beat their opponents – though any victory would hardly have overshadowed the minnows of those clubs already mentioned. However, it wasn’t to be for the plucky Blades, as Wolves ran them ragged at three goals to nil, and book a place in the fourth round. I thought that the 27,000 crowd (against a capacity of 31,700), was a very good turnout for a cup match that can often see nose turned up at earlier rounds.

Molineux is a stadium which I fully enjoy visiting. My recent visit was my fourth visit to this magnificent stadium. Cemented firmly in the town centre, and amongst the hours and narrow streets, Molineux has that old vibrant euphoria that the purist of ground hoppers crave, whilst the large undertaking of redevelopment and improvement within the last 25 to 30-years gives that almost new stadium vibe. Wolves moved into Molineux in 1889, and is one of those stadiums which has ever rapidly been evolving. Whilst the Taylor Report may have had a huge impact in the changing face of Molineux, it certainly has seen a huge facelift since the mid-1990’s.

Away supporters are housed in the two-tiered Steve Bull stand in the lower tier. Adjacent is the identical Billy Wright stand. To our left, behind goal, is a single tiered stand, but the opposite goal has a doubled tier enormous structure that towers over the stadium – and is no doubt the focal point for any future further development, and, potentially, making Molineux and grandeur of a spectacle sometime in the future.

However, my travel to Wolverhampton was somewhat treacherous. With the M6 deep in traffic, due to an accident, I decided not to gamble and took the toll road instead – meaning I missed out on the epic flyover of Walsall’s Bescot Stadium – a treat which was sorely missed! Eventually, I was with a stone’s throw of Molinueux but parking was horrendous. My last few visits had seen myself park in Faulkner Street car park, however, the majority of this had been taken up as a Covid-19 testing site, and all the spaces were gone. With an hour and ten minutes until a 2:00 pm kick-off, I was left charging around the town hunting for the last remaining car parking space. I eventually, and with some desperation, found somewhere to park very close to the ground, almost opposite the Billy Wright stand. It meant cramming cars in like sardines in a wasteland of a car park behind solicitors, but was a spot and managed to get myself into the ground ten minutes before kick-off.

Wolves away, remains on my list of ‘must-sees,’ whenever the opportunity arises, and will be hunting for my next visit to this glorious stadium that is most certainly the jewel of the Midlands.

Molineux in 2008

Matches Attended

2005/06 (22 Nov) - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Sheffield United

2007/08 (01 Jan) - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Sheffield United

2021/22 (09 Jan) - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Sheffield United (FA Cup Round 3)