Express & Star

Sherpa men: Where are they now?

Twenty years ago, Wolves won the Sherpa Van Trophy at Wembley with a squad costing £227,500. So where are they now?

Published

sherpa-men.jpegTwenty years ago, Wolves won the Sherpa Van Trophy at Wembley with a squad costing £227,500. So where are they now?

Graham Turner – manager. Age 60.

Now the second-longest serving manager behind Sir Alex Ferguson, Turner has been in charge at Hereford for 13 years, where he has turned in a profit for the last five and has just won back-to-back promotions, like he did at Wolves.

Barry Powell – assistant manager. Age 54.

Now coaching coaches at a college near Kenilworth. He led Hednesford to FA Trophy glory in 2004 in one of two spells, while he also managed Aberystwyth and Stafford. Began and ended his playing career at Wolves, winning the League Cup in 1974, also serving Coventry, Derby, Burnley and Swansea.

Mark Kendall - Died aged 49 from a heart attack on May 1. Cost £20,000. Wolves apps 147.

Fondly remembered, the goalkeeper-turned-Gwent policeman was the joker in the pack who holds a club record 28 clean sheets. After Wolves, he played for Swansea, Burnley (loan), Ebbw Vale and Cwmbran.

Gary Bellamy – Age 46. Cost £17,500. Wolves apps 164.

Now living in Braintree and working for a housing company as a social landlord, providing homes for the needy. Left Wolves for Leyton Orient and later managed Chelmsford, Dover and Braintree. Self-confessed Mr Boring, he could have played cricket for Derbyshire.

Andy Thompson – Age 40. Cost £32,000. Wolves apps 451.

Just started as a PE teacher at Chellaston high school, Burton. Recently been coaching Wolves under-16's, he works at Molineux on matchdays in corporate hospitality. Also played for Tranmere, Cardiff and Shrewsbury before a torn calf ended his career at 35.

Floyd Streete – Age 49. Cost £2,500. Wolves apps 159.

The only surviving squad member who wasn't at the reunion, 'Bruno' is now living in the Cayman Islands with his family. Now running a business, he has started a grass roots football team. After Wolves, played for Reading where he was involved with care for children.

Ally Robertson – Age 56. Cost free. Wolves apps 129.

Now business manager for BMW Oldbury where he has worked for many years, the former Albion defender was the experienced campaigner at the back. After leaving Wolves, he managed Cheltenham before moving into the car industry.

Phil Robinson – Age 41. Cost free. Wolves apps 90.

Just left Cheltenham as No 2 to Keith Downing. Resigned as Stafford Rangers boss in December after five-and-a-half years, winning two promotions.

After Wolves he played for Notts County twice, Birmingham, Huddersfield, Chesterfield, Northampton, Stoke and Hereford, spending two years as Graham Turner's No 2.

Robbie Dennison – Age 45. Cost £27,500. Wolves apps 347.

Now buying and selling property at home and abroad after selling his sports trophy business, he commentates on Wolves for local radio. Before leaving Wolves he went on loan to Swansea before spells with Hednesford and Hereford. He was also player/manager at Wyrley Rangers.

Keith Downing – Age 43. Cost free. Wolves apps 201.

Recently sacked by Cheltenham, where he had managed for 11 months after assisting John Ward. Psycho returned to Wolves as youth then reserve coach under Dave Jones after playing for Birmingham, Stoke, Cardiff and Hereford.

Steve Bull – Age 43. Cost £64,000. Wolves apps 561.

Managing Stafford, who he has steered to 10 points out of the last 12 after they dropped out of the Blue Square Premier. One of football's biggest bargains, he is a Molineux legend after scoring a club record 306 goals, a Wolves vice-president and has a stand named after him.

Andy Mutch – Age 44. Cost £5,000. Wolves apps 288.

Now running his own window supply business in Southport, he watches Liverpool with his son. Left Wolves for then Premiership Swindon and served Stockport, Barrow and Telford, where he had the first of four assistant manager posts.

These included Hednesford, Morecambe and Vauxhall. Also had a spelll as Doncaster chief scout.

Micky Holmes – Age 43. Cost free. Wolves apps 104.

Lecturing and coaching at Leicester College and managing Oadby. Owns a sandwich shop. The only midfielder to score in seven successive games for Wolves, he left for Huddersfield, Rochdale, Torquay and Carlisle before his career was ended at 29 by a back injury in a car crash.

Jackie Gallagher – Age 50. Cost £8,000. Wolves apps 36.

The stocky understudy to Bull and Mutch, he came on as sub in the final. Played for Wisbech in his teens, 20s,30s, 40s and at 50 and also managed the non-league team – which is situated at the end of his garden – three times. Now a nationwide courier.

Nigel Vaughan – Age 49. Cost £11,000. Wolves apps 88.

Now head of youth at Shrewsbury, where he has been for seven years. Coached Wolves school of excellence for nine years under Rob Kelly and Chris Evans. Played for Hereford, Worcester and AFC Newport before managing Shropshire sides Bandon, Star and Ludlow.

Jon Purdie – Age 41. Cost free. Wolves apps 103.

Played in the same Arsenal youth team as Tony Adams, but cup-tied for final and quit the pro game at 23 after leaving Wolves for Oxford.

Settled in Wolverhampton and played non-League for Kidderminster, Telford, Cheltenham and Worcester.

Has been running his telecommunications company, TIC, for six years.

Mark Venus – Age 41. Cost £40,000. Wolves apps 297.

Ineligible for the final, he became a major part of the club's success, winning the Third Division in 1989 and stayed at Molineux for nine years before joining Ipswich and winning promotion.

His ex-Tractor Boys team-mate Tony Mowbray took him to Hibernian and then Albion.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.