Wolves legend Stan Cullis remembered: The early years

And today we pay tribute to one Stanley Cullis – on what would have been his 100th birthday.

The man considered to be one of the greatest managers in English football history was born in Ellesmere Port on October 25, 1916. We've delved into our archive to remember some of the highlights of Cullis's remarkable Wolves reign, which saw him guide the team to three league titles and two FA Cup.

Cullis' Wolves were regarded as one of the best teams in world football in the 1950s and famously beat the likes of Real Madrid and Honved in floodlit Molineux friendlies.

His legacy has lasted many a decade and Cullis has had a stand named after him at Molineux and a statue built in his honour.

Today we begin the first of two days' of tributes to the great man, remembering key moments of his Wolves tenure and also some of his most memorable matches.

First up, Wolves correspondent Tim Spiers charts the early years of Stan's career, looking at his playing days.

Buckley had a major impact

"Cullis, if you listen and do as you are told, I will make you captain of Wolves one day."

The words of Wolves boss Major Frank Buckley to a teenage Stan Cullis as he set out on a one-club journey that started in 1934 and would last for 30 years.

The major stayed true to his word. And Cullis was not only captain, but a fine one at that.

Educated at Cambridge Road School, Ellesmere, he joined the local 'Wednesday' side in 1930 and never looked back, being picked up by Wolves and becoming skipper aged just 18.

"No youngster of 18 could ask for a better instructor than the major, who laid the foundations of the modern Wolves during his 16 years at Molineux," Cullis later said in his autobiography.

"You only have the one life and I gave mine to Wolves."

– Cullis' most famous quote, explaining the depths his love of Wolves went to.

"I could have accomplished nothing without the players' loyalty."

– Upon winning Wolves' first ever league title in 1954.

"Count me out."

– When asked if he would give a Nazi salute before England's game against Germany in Berlin, 1938. He was dropped from the team.

"I do not encourage my players to parade their ability."

– Making it clear who's boss.

"There they are – the champions of the world."

– Cullis proclaims his team the best on the planet after they beat Honved in 1954.

"Buckley spent many hours drilling me in the precious art of captaincy, telling me in no ambiguous terms that I was to be the boss on the field."

– Explaining the influence of Major Frank Buckley on his playing days.

"They have to move quickly and think quickly."

– On Wolves' famous direct style.

"In the end it is the feelings of the players, the heart they put into the game, and the pride they feel in themselves and their club which counts."

– A far cry from today's game. Cullis outlines what made Wolves so successful.

"They can say all they like. Our supporters get more entertainment from watching Wolves than any other teams put together."

– Defending his team's 'kick and rush' tactics.

"I simply created a yardstick which people could criticise me against."

Centre-half Cullis made his debut on February 16, 1935 against Huddersfield Town, becoming a regular in the 1936/37 season and then skipper the following year, with the major making him 'official captain' aged 20.

Wolves were beginning to build something special and, helped by Cullis, they were runners-up in Division 1 in 1938 (to Everton) and 1939 (to Arsenal) as they missed out on the club's elusive first ever league title.

With Cullis as captain they also reached the 1939 FA Cup final, suffering a shock 4-1 defeat to Portsmouth.

Cullis was considered one of the finest defenders of his era (Stanley Matthews said Cullis was the best header of the ball in the Football League) and international honours duly followed.

He made his England bow in 1937 and won 12 caps, captaining them on his last appearance and becoming England's youngest ever skipper. It would have been 13 caps had Cullis not been dropped from the team in 1938 for refusing to perform a Nazi salute against Germany in Berlin.

Were in not for the outbreak of the Second World War Cullis would have played far more games for England and surely won honours with Wolves for whom he played 171 times.

He did play in 20 wartime and Victory internationals and resumed with Wolves in 1945, but was warned by a doctor that because of previous head injuries, even heading a heavy leather football could prove fatal.

He retired in 1947, became boss Ted Vizard's assistant, and when he stepped down a year later it was Cullis named as his successor.

The most successful period in Wolverhampton Wanderers' history was about to begin.

* The Cullis story continues in tomorrow's Express & Star.