Blast from the past: West Brom's John Wile was built for the long game
In an era when we are often told there are too many games, they simply don't make players like Albion legend John Wile any more.
It was back in the 1978/79 campaign that Albion fulfilled 76 first-team fixtures with the Baggies enjoying extended runs in the FA Cup, UEFA Cup and Tennent Caledonian Cup.
Wile lined up in all but one of them, earning himself what will surely be an unbeatable record of the most appearances made by an Albion player in a single season.
But the popular Geordie had already become a Hawthorns legend long before that gruelling campaign.
Snapped up from Peterborough as the last major signing of boss Alan Ashman, Wile took over the number five shirt from John Talbot – making his debut against Blackpool in December 1970.
That proved to be the first of many starring displays with his commanding and powerful style ensuring he would go on to be one of the club's greatest ever defenders.
Perhaps one performance that summed up Wile more than any other was his tremendous display in the 1978 FA Cup semi-final loss to Ipswich. After a clash of heads with goalscorer Brian Talbot, blood covered his face and filled his eyes but he heroically battled on despite the Baggies eventually falling to a 3-1 defeat.
That though was the true essence of Wile, a master defender, born fighter and player who always gave his all over 90 minutes.
He made his 500th and last league appearance for the Baggies against former club Sunderland in May 1983, crowning a magnificent 13 years with the club.
Wile left having played more games at centre-half than any other Albion player, racking up 613 starts in that position and one sub appearance.
In the league alone, he wore the number five jersey on 497 occasions and remains the club's third highest appearance maker behind Tony Brown (818) and Ally Robertson (729).
Shortly after leaving The Hawthorns, Wile returned to Peterborough as player-manager after missing out on a similar post at Bolton Wanderers a year earlier.
He later returned to the Baggies as managing director, a position he occupied from 1997 through to 2002.
And in 2004 he was named as one of West Bromwich Albion's 16 greatest players, in a poll organised as part of the club's 125th anniversary celebrations.
