On the road with Wolves’ Barmy Army

The Wolves performance was phenomenal but just like the journeys to Liverpool and Stoke City in the FA Cup last season, the travelling gold and black faithful were intent on making the whole day – before and after the Carabao Cup fourth round tie – one to remember.

More than 6,000 fans took the journey to the Etihad Stadium, either going their own way there or on one of the dozens of coaches provided by various supporters groups.

One of those groups providing coach travel for the clash between the Premier League and the Championship’s pace-setters was Tatter Travels.

It is run by 39-year-old Richard Perkins, from Tettenhall Wood. He put on eight coaches – Tatter Travels’ largest-ever operation – which set off from the Wheatsheaf pub in Wolverhampton town centre. “It all started at the beginning of last season,” said Perkins.

“It’s ended up here and this is the most coaches we have done by quite some distance. We did five to Liverpool last season but that was a Saturday, 3pm kick-off.

“This was a Tuesday, 8pm, but eight coaches this time so it is growing a bit.”

The first coach left at approximately 2.15pm, and the last just after 3pm – which I was on. Each was filled with excited Wolves fans, of course, and also along for the ride were a host of former players – Mel Eves, Phil Parkes, George Berry, Andy Mutch, Paul Butler, Derek Mountfield and Colin Taylor. Eves, 61, won the competition with Wolves in 1980, beating then-European Cup holders Nottingham Forest at a packed-out Wembley. He was glad to reminisce with supporters about that fantastic day, and said: “It’s a massive thing because football clubs are made up of two things – fans and players.

“Obviously, you have the present players but there is also an affinity, camaraderie and love that fans have for former players.

“That bond can only get better when things like this are organised.”

In true away-day fashion, there was a pit-stop for supporters to refuel. The boozer in question was the Windmill Inn, in Knutsford. That break, while welcomed by supporters, meant things went right down to the wire though in terms of getting there for kick-off at 8pm. The M56 was at a standstill during rush hour but, thankfully, the vast majority of the Wolves faithful seemed to get in on time. As the game made it to extra time and then penalties, where Wolves eventually succumbed 4-1.

For 27-year-old fan Matty Lewis, from Claregate, that big game feel is something he craves more of.

“We had Liverpool and Stoke away last season, so we have had big games,” he said.

“We are hoping that this is going to be a league fixture next season, let’s be honest”

For Perkins, who is also looking to start the Tatter fanzine again next month, the day was a resounding success.

“You take the fans up, support the team, have a good day out – and get them home safe,” he added. “You get the old players involved as well and it makes more of a day of it. You are not in it for the money when you do these things, let’s put it that way.”