Wolves legend helps launch football book

An author has penned a history of a West Midlands football club – and invited a Wolves legend to help launch it.

Neil Chambers, from Norton Canes, has written a 220-page book entitled The History of Darlaston Town Football Club.

He held a signing session at Cannock Library where he was joined by the club's former player manager Terry Wharton, better known for his Molineux days. Wharton, aged 69, who played for Wolves between 1957 and 1968, was with Darlaston between 1976 and 1977.

The man who was player manager for two seasons said he was delighted to join Mr Chambers, aged 55, for the book signing.

He said: "Neil asked me to come over and I said I'd be delighted – it's a cracking book."

The right winger scored 98 goals from 347 appearances in the Football League.

After leaving Wolves he played for Bolton Wanderers, Crystal Palace and Walsall as well as having a spell in South Africa.

Despite writing a book on Darlaston, Mr Chambers is a keen Aston Villa supporter.

However he has followed the team since the 1960s, holding several posts including chairman, secretary and programme editor. He took 18 months to write the book.

He said: "When I was programme editor I found out the club had produced an FA Cup winning captain – Jack Burkitt of Nottingham Forest in 1959.

"It inspired me to get my teeth into researching the history of the club and I established 115 players played for Darlaston and also in the Football League, including four FA Cup winners and three internationals – one of which was an England captain. The book reveals the club has an incredible history."