Before carrying on with the journey through past World Cups(1994 is next) I'll take a break to celebrate Wolves' promtion to the Premier League. Yes, it happened yesterday but today was their celebration match, where they could play without the pressure of needing to win.
For anybody who missed this is the past I, the Aston Villa fan, mark Wolves' achievements on my Dad's behalf.
A mention of Wolves also gives me an excuse for an update on the situation at the top of the Championship for everybody who has a hard time looking down from the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga. I know I said I wouldn't for a while but it's close to the end.
Wolves are promoted and one point away from being crowned champions. Cardiff are back in second place after a win on the weekend was preceeded by two defeats in a row (one to Villa). Fulham are third, a point behind Cardiff and Villa are fourth, three points behind Fulham. Cardiff have a game in hand so it's up to them to mess up the second automatic promotion spot. Villa are hoping for a minor collapse from the two teams above them, but the fans are having a hard time getting over the damaging recent defeats to QPR, Bolton and Norwich. Playoffs are guaranteed for Villa and the battle below for the remaining spots may go to the final day. Millwall are the surprise team in sixth place right now.
But today is about Wolves. In the late 80s and 90s Steve Bull was the main man, the player my Dad and I talked about. He wasn't quite Billy Wright leading Wolves as champions of England in the 1950s but he was their brightest light in some dark days for the team. Relegated to the old fourth division they fought their way through two consecutive promotions to make it into the second division. And Steve Bull could not stop scoring, breaking all sorts of Wolves' records. He played for England a few times, even scored four times, but never played in Division One or later, the Premier League. A true loyal player he changed his mind about an opportunity to play in the Premier League with Coventry to stay with Wolves.
These days Wolves have new heroes. One of them is Ruben Neves, scorer one of the goals of the season last Wednesday, a goal that almost guaranteed promotion. I admire the beauty of the goal, and I love the celebration of the commentators on Wolves TV. It is genuine, unbridled joy. This is what football does to us.
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