Thousands of Wolves fans at Molineux for Jody Craddock's big day

Jody Craddock – the bedrock of the team's defence for a decade – could not have picked a better date on which to play his testimonial.

Molineux was still riding high after winning promotion and being crowned League One champions with the third highest points tally ever recorded in that division.

See also: Jody Craddock's testimonial in pictures

A total of 9,095 fans gave up their Bank Holiday Monday afternoon for the sake of a favourite son. Even former owner Sir Jack Hayward had crossed the Atlantic to be there, while former Wolves manager Mick McCarthy was also in attendance. They all lined up to pay tribute to the former player who has been hailed as a model professional on and off the pitch.

Hundreds of supporters had come all the way from Sunderland – the team who provided the opposition for yesterday's game and for whom he played before joining Wolves. Four coach-loads drove down from the North East to be joined by others who travelled to Molineux by car and train. The high regard in which he is held by fellow players was illustrated by the team sheet, which was full of top players and highlighted by Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips who were partnered together for the first time since their glory days as one of the most fearsome strike partnership in English football.

Sunderland scored first and held the lead until after half time when Wolves hit back. Dave Edwards met a cross to side foot the equaliser at the near post. Then came a heart-warming twist as soap star Ayden Callaghan was brought down by Jody Craddock – now playing for Sunderland after switching sides at he interval – and the referee pointed to the spot.

On to the pitch ran Jody's three sons led by little Toby who has been under the care of Birmingham Children's Hospital since being diagnosed with leukaemia in April 2012. He was followed by brothers Joseph and Luke.

First, Toby sent Sunderland keeper Thomas Myhre the wrong way with a penalty into the bottom corner of the net. This was greeted with rapturous applause from the fans who were on their feet again as Joseph and Luke each added further goals from the spot. The delighted boys then ran from the field to a thunderous reception and were greeted on the touch line with hugs and kisses from their proud mother Shelley. A chunk of the proceeds from the testimonial is going to Birmingham Children's Hospital's cancer centre appeal.

During the final minutes of the game the fans were treated to the sight of George Elokobi playing in goal for Wolves. The popular full back is leaving the club after six-and-a-half years and showed why he was a fans' favourite by displaying unexpected talent between the sticks. He saved spectacularly with his feet, dealt confidently with crosses and fittingly brought the game to a close by clutching a shot to his chest as the final whistle blew.

The match finished 4-1 with Sunderland's goal scored by Quinn with a trademark far post diving header. He said afterwards: "It was great to be back with the lads. I have played in a couple of charity matches since retiring but this was the first time I have been back in the dressing room with my former teammates. It was a very special feeling listening to my old manager Bobby Saxton giving the team talk. That and everybody giving each other stick brought back a lot of happy memories. "I was happy to score but I was aiming for the other corner of the net! But it was Jody's day and I was delighted to play my part. It was a fantastic day for a fantastic fella."

His strike partner Kevin Phillips, so often Wolves' nemesis when he played for bitter local rivals West Brom and regularly scored in the derby matches, did not find the net. He was also roundly booed by a section of the Wolves fans with long memories every time he got near the ball, but held no grudge against them after the final whistle.

He said: "I had been partying too hard since retiring at the end of the season and so missed a couple of chances but Niall was still good for the back stick header. It is the first time we had played together since the good old days and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I didn't expect anything different from the fans but I would have taken a punch in the face to be here for Jody today."

Earlier, Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey had even more reason to celebrate after the team's promotion when he managed to save three penalties by rock superstar and club vice-president Robert Plant during the half-time entertainment. Well, one of them hit the bar but he managed to palm away the other two without his feet ever leaving the ground. The Led Zeppelin frontman had been given a pep talk by the club's scoring sensation Steve Bull before taking to the field. "I told him to take off his cowboy boots and wear a pair of football boots instead," revealed Bully. "The size of the crowd would not have worried him but I had warned him there was a big difference between singing and playing football."

Mr Moxey, resplendent in baggy green shorts and matching jersey, stood no chance when Robert Plant's son Logan, who played a half in the game after his father won an auction at Jody's testimonial dinner, scored comprehensively during the half-time shoot-out.

Earlier, the triumphant Wolves team had been presented with a scroll commemorating their promotion by Wolverhampton Mayor Councillor Milkinder Jaspal during a reception at Molineux. He told the team: "We are really proud of you all. There is a strong partnership between the council and the club. We are all pushing the city forward and you have done it in style this season. The manager has done a marvellous job but there are many other people who have helped to get the club where it is today."

Among those present were council leader Roger Lawrence and retiring Conservative opposition leader Councillor Nevill Patten. Wolves manager Kenny Jackett replied: "We are very much aware of our responsibility to the community and take it very seriously. Turning up at 10 minutes past 12 for a testimonial match that kicks off at two o'clock and seeing so many people outside the ground shows what a fantastic club this is to be a part of."

Mr Moxey commented: "We work closely with the council and we are delighted by the support we get from them. It was also rather nice to see that the water in one of their swimming pools has been turned gold in our honour, although I'm not sure what you come out of the water looking like if you bathe in it.

"It is good to be back in the Championship. I think it has been a really genuine team effort from everybody in the club. There is lots of work still to be done but let us savour the occasion."

He also led the flood of praise for Jody Craddock that flowed from fans and players alike. Mr Moxey said: "He was the complete, model professional, especially when you consider the difficulties he has had in his personal life with his child. Testimonials do not happen often in football now because players change clubs more regularly but he is one of those who thoroughly deserve this accolade."

Former Wolves owner Sir Jack Hayward also paid tribute to Craddock and added that he and his family had visited him in Barbados. "A lot of people don't know this but his wife Shelley was born in Freeport (city in Grand Bahama) where her father worked in the refinery, so she knows the place. They stayed with us once. I hope their son Joseph has got out of his habit of eating the sand on the beach. There's a limit to how much of the stuff you can eat – we've only got 70 miles of beach!"

Former Wolves coach Terry Connor, who returned to Molineux for the game, said: "Jody is a fantastic guy who never changed in all the years we worked together, whatever his own personal issues. It did not matter if he was in the team and captain or out of the side he treated it just the same. He was always honest, committed and hard-working."

Ex-Wolves manager Mick McCarthy, who received an enthusiastic reception from the Molineux faithful on his return to the ground, added: "You could not with to meet a better man than Jody Craddock. As a player he was a tremendous professional – someone that a manager could trust. The way he went about his business both on and off the park was exemplary."

Wolves Vice President Baroness Rachael Heyhoe-Flint commented: "When you talk about loyalty in football, Jody is the ideal role model. I hope that the dedication that he has shown will be mirrored by all professional footballers."

Danny Batth, the 23-year-old Wolves centre half who was the only ever present player in the side this season, said: "He was a great role model for me. When I first came to the club full-time he was at the top of his game and was a person I tried to copy. He showed how hard work pays off." Steve Bull declared: "Jody is one of a dying breed in football. Whatever he did had the best interests of the club at heart."

Former Wolves goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey said: "In my eyes Jody is a legend and always will be," while another ex-teammate, Stephen Ward,added: "Jody is one of the best people I have ever met. The way he conducts his life both on an off the pitch is something that a lot of young players should take notice of."

Linda Grieson, aged 58, a housing manager from South Shields, who was one of the army of Sunderland fans who travelled to the game, said: "I did not have to think twice before coming. Jody is a first-class family man who played his heart out for whatever team he was representing. He is a lovely lad."

Jody said after the game: "It was a fantastic turn-out. We aimed to get 8,000 and comfortably passed that mark. I would really like to thank everybody who turned up. I am also very grateful to all the players. The calibre was high in both sides and they all had a go.

"It is a day that I will never forget and a wonderful way for my career to end."