Jody Craddock's testimonial - match report and picture gallery

And how appropriate that it was the one person who had already stolen everyone's hearts.

Little Toby Craddock, who is still under treatment for leukaemia at Birmingham Children's Hospital, ran on to score the penalty that put Wolves ahead before his older brothers Luke and Joseph did likewise to complete a unique family treble on their dad's big day as a Wolves XI beat a Sunderland XI 4-1.

For Jody, his wife Shelley and their family in the bigger-than-expected 9,095 crowd, it was a moment to bring a lump to the throat and smiles all round.

Whatever lies ahead for Toby, he provided a moment to cherish and no doubt to savour in the family's memory banks for years to come.

The penalty incident was all in fun of course and all carefully pre-meditated by Craddock senior, who tapped the ankles of Hollyoaks actor and Wolves fan Ayden Callaghan with enough conviction to 'buy' referee Alan Wiley and award the spot kick six minutes from time.

Callaghan revealed afterwards that Craddock had actually been urging him 'go down, go down' to ensure the perfect game-changer.

While the idea had always been to 'engineer' a match-winning penalty, Craddock stalled on the idea of taking it himself in favour of allowing his youngest son the glory.

It was an act so typical of his humility, but also explained why he was blessed with such an all-star cast list on the day: Phillips chose this ahead of Leicester's title parade and everyone wanted to play for Jody.

The spot kick drama provided an appropriate ending to a game that was until then thin on goals but thick on effort and commitment, starting with the Sunderland fans, who travelled down in their hundreds to get a final glimpse in action of their prolific strike partnership of Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips, and mingled happily among the Wolves fans.

A happy Bank Holiday mood helped along by some mild sunshine started with a title parade by Kenny Jackett's squad, led emphatically by George Elokobi holding the trophy, and later holding the ball when he went in goal for the last 14 minutes.

Phillips received prolonged light-hearted boos whenever he touched the ball for his habit of scoring against Wolves and his Albion connections.

In fact, such has been his success rate against the Molineux men down the years that for some the fear of dread any time he picked up possession anywhere near the Wolves goal was only matched by the relief of him going off after 55 minutes knowing he wouldn't score against them again.

But there was entertainment all the same amid the chance to see players from the present day mix with heroes from the fairly recent past.

While Sunderland fans got the chance to see Quinn and Phillips again – as well as a nimble Kevin Kilbane and Gavin McCann - Sylvan Ebanks-Blake was once again 'Wanderers number nine', with Richard Stearman his unlikely strike partner, and Matt Murray taking over from Carl Ikeme in goal in a side managed by Mick McCarthy and assisted by Terry Connor, who received warm welcomes back on the first return to the home dugout since 2012.

Other highlights included Alex Rae – who played for Sunderland in the first half and Wolves in the second - still able to dish it out as he was penalised for a couple of tackles, and let Wiley know what he thought of the decisions in time-honoured fashion too!

While all eyes were on Phillips, who had a shot blocked before Quinn sliced over the rebound, it was the latter who produced a full length dive at the far post to beat Murray and put the Sunderland XI ahead two minutes before the break, later claiming he was aiming for the other side of the goal.

The light-hearted theme carried into an extended half-time which saw chief executive Jez Moxey don a garish bright yellow goalkeeping outfit to have a series of penalties taken at him by legendary rocker and Wolves vice-president Robert Plant, wearing full kit.

But the pantomime villain and the club's first officer palmed two of Plant's efforts onto the bar and even denied spot-kick 'referee' Steve Bull by saving his too, although he was beaten by Elokobi, whose neat finish low in the corner contrasted with his fast bowler run-up.

When the action resumed, Wolves eventually equalised through Dave Edwards, turning home in clinical style from Ebanks-Blake's right-wing cross in the 69^th minute.

By then Craddock had swapped sides to Sunderland to allow himself the chance to win Wolves a penalty and the win.

But the real winner when the cash is all totted up over the next couple of weeks will be Birmingham Children's Hospital, which Craddock has worked tirelessly to raise funds for throughout his testimonial year.

Wolves XI (4-4-2): Ikeme (Murray 16, Flatt HT, Elokobi 76); Collins, Craddock (Rushden 66), Berra, R Edwards; Daley (Rae HT), Olofinjana, D Edwards (Wernham 70), Hill (Rhodes 70); Stearman (Callaghan HT), Ebanks-Blake (Guy 76).

Sunderland (4-4-2): Sorensen (Myrhe HT); Wainwright (Jones 55), Holloway (Harrison 55, Craddock 66), Williams, Gray (Piper 55); Rae (Arca 18, McCann 55), McCann (Stewart 18), Smith (Duke 55), Kilbane (Aiston 55); Quinn (Proctor 43), Phillips (Sloane 55, Wainwright 75).

Referee: Alan Wiley (Burntwood).

Attendance: 9,095.