Wolves' Jody Craddock 'an inspiration' - pictures from his testimonial dinner
Wolves stalwart Jody Craddock was described as an inspiration and a great ambassador as his testimonial was launched in style at Molineux last night.
Craddock, who retired in the summer, was joined by former Wolves manager Mick McCarthy, assistant Terry Connor and a host of the 2008-09 promotion-winning squad at a sold-out dinner in his honour.
More than £8,000 was received in donations on the night from supporters at the dinner, which sold out all 280 places in four days.
Included in the figure was Wolves vice-president and legendary rock star Robert Plant, who paid £900 to play for 45 minutes in Craddock's testimonial, which will be between former players of Wolves and Sunderland next May.
Money raised will go to the Birmingham Children's Hospital, where Jody's youngest son Toby has been treated for leukaemia since May 2012.
Chief executive Jez Moxey said: "We could not have wished for a better ambassador or a better player for our club."
Former team-mate Matt Murray added: "Jody – you're an inspiration."
McCarthy said: "He's had a career of minimal fuss.
"Every manager in the country is looking for a defender who can head it and kick it – well, that's what he did.
"He was the nicest fella off the pitch but horrible to play against, someone who would put his heart and soul into it on the field and I loved him for it.
"I was thinking 'have I got any funny stories about Jody?' but there is nothing but his qualities as a player and as a bloke."
McCarthy re-told the story about being wrong over sending Craddock on loan to Stoke before bringing him back.
"We were talking about bringing him back because centre forwards were dropping off us with no-one following them in," said McCarthy, now in charge at Ipswich.
"Anyway, Jody came back and did it with aplomb, following his man then taking the ball cleanly and I looked at Terry and we said 'It's great to have him back'."
