Wolves FA Cup hero dies, 73

Norman Deeley, who scored twice in Wolves' FA Cup victory in 1960, has been found dead in his Wednesbury home at the age of 73.

Tributes have been pouring in for the player, who played for the club as a winger during the golden era of the 1950s when Wolves were crowned top-flight champions three times.

Mr Deeley has been described as "a true Wolves legend" who gave his all for the club - he made 237 appearances, scoring 75 goals in 11 years.

Former player Bill Slater, who was captain of the Wolves team that beat Blackburn Rovers to lift the FA Cup in 1960, said: "This is very sad news indeed - Norman was a fine player who was immensely popular.

"He spent many years at the club and scored a lot of goals. I remember when we beat Blackburn 3-0 and he scored twice, and if I remember right he fired in the shot for the other goal that actually came off a Blackburn player before going in.

"He did joke that he thought he should claim it so he could have a cup final hat-trick. That's the lively character he was. It's very sad news and he will be missed."

Ex-player Ron Flowers, who spent 15 years at Wolves from 1952 to1967, said: "Norman was a great player and I reckon he could have played just about anywhere.

"He was a cheeky fellow, as all little players are, and will be missed an awful lot."

Mr Deeley was the smallest player to ever play for England at schoolboy level, being just 4ft 4ins tall in 1947, as well as one of the shortest players to ever grace the Football League.

He made his debut against Arsenal in 1951 and was turned from an old fashioned right-half into a right winger, eventually establishing himself in the side as a regular from 1957 onwards.

Peter Creed, honorary secretary of the Wolves Former Players Association, said: "Senior Wolves fans like myself can close our eyes and still see Norman and his soul mate Peter Broadbent weave magic for the club's great teams of the late 1950s and early 1960s.

"Norman was a bubbly personality full of fun. He was a much loved founder member of our association and will be sadly missed."

The popular winger ended up with two league title medals in 1958 and 1959, one FA Cup in 1960, and was capped twice for England while a Wolves player against Brazil and Peru in 1960 before departing Molineux in 1962 to join Leyton Orient. A

fter Orient he joined Worcester City in 1964 before spells at Bromsgrove Rovers and Darlaston, eventually hanging up his boots in 1974.

He lived in Bilston Road, Wednesbury, and was a part-time steward at Walsall in the years up to his death.

Jez Moxey, chief executive of Wolverhampton Wanderers, said: "We are sad to hear of the death of Norman Deeley, who was part of the team that achieved such great things in the 1950s. We send our deepest condolences to his friends and family at this sad time."

By Tom Edwards