Ex-Wolves legends reveal regrets and a boozy blunder to fans at pub fundraising evening

No stone was left unturned as Wolves favourites Jody Craddock, Phil Parkes and Steve Daley took supporters' questions at a pub fund-raising evening.

In total the three have played more than 500 games for Wolves, arguably enjoying the best years of their careers in the Black Country. But it was not always so rosy for them three players, as the group of about 50 fans found out at the event at the King Charles pub in Bushbury.

Craddock said: "I have always said Mick McCarthy was the best manager I had played with, he got the best out of me – the way he did training and the way he ran the team was perfect for me – when he got the sack it was disappointing.

McCarthy was sacked almost two years ago, and despite his assistant Terry Connor taking over, the club was relegated.

Further disappointment was to follow last season as Stale Solbakken and Dean Saunders both failed to revitalise the club, which fell further into League One.

Today, Kenny Jackett, since taking over last May, has helped the team find its feet again as the club pushes for promotion back to the Championship, currently standing on top of League One.

And while the ex-players recognise the club's achievements this year, they all share frustration at the dark side of the modern game. Steve Daley, a star midfielder for Wolves in the 1970s, said: "When you see Manchester United play you see Ashley Young go at the fullback and you know when he goes into the box he will drop to the ground – it's pathetic. We have to do something to stop this happening in our game."

Phil Parkes, who was goalkeeper at Wolves from 1964 to 1978, said: "I hate the wrestling of shirts between players in the box before a corner. The only person who can stop this is the referee and I know you hear people say 'well there would be 10 penalty kicks in a game if he blew every time'. I say let them do that, then this would stop."

Several years later, Steve left was to leave Wolves to join Malcolm Allison's for Manchester City for a then British record of just under £1.5million, but the move did not work out for him. as he failed to recapture the form which made him one of the game's first million pound players.

He even received death threats from fans while at the club. But he told the audience: "I should have stayed at Wolves, I was on the on verge of the England team and things were going great – but that all changed when I went to Manchester City. That's my one career regret."

They were asked who was the best player they had come up against – Jody said Thierry Henry, while Phil and Steve both said George Best. Steve said: "He nutmegged me from 50 yards, I was so proud."

Then they were asked who was the best player they had played with.

Steve said: "Kenny Hibbit, he always gave 100 per cent. That season in 1976 we were so successful going forward. Whatever happened behind us, we would think we'll go up the other end and get another."

Phil said: "John McAlle was hard as nails, he would throw himself into tackles and then get up for more. A quality, quality player.

Steve said: "Geoff Palmer was very good. I came back from the States and he was playing his last game. He was a better player than people thought."

Finally, the subject of player punishment was put to the players, with a fan asking what was the worst each player received.

Steve said: "Being left out the next week when you think you can do a better job than others.

Jody said: "Definitely getting dropped, particularly if you think you played okay.

"If you play badly you expect to be called into the office, but players don't usually like getting called in on the Sunday.

"It's a tough job as a manger, you have to keep players' morale up, and players can be like kids, you need to look after them.

"We had one game when Mick wanted us in the next day and we were heading up to Newcastle, I think, for our Christmas party. When he found out, to be fair, he said leave it. It certainly helped with respect from the players."

The players were at the pub as part of Jody's fundraising drive for Birmingham Children's Hospital. Dean Parkes, entertainment co-ordinator at the pub, said: "It's great they can all come down here for this, it has certainly been an entertaining evening for all the fans."

As part of the event, a raffle was held, pushing the total amount raised to about £300.