Wolves' title triumph in spotlight for new Wolverhampton Art Gallery exhibition

The Championship campaign and spectacular open top bus parade, which saw thousands line the streets of Wolverhampton, is being celebrated in the free exhibition at Wolverhampton Art Gallery.

Opening to the public today, it will take supporters on a journey throughout the season and showcase a selection of photographs from the club’s city parade and party in West Park in May this year.

More than 80,000 proud Wolves fans were entertained across the two events in the city on May 7 and images, interviews and a short film will offer a unique, behind-the-scenes look at the planning, preparation and celebration of the club’s title winning success.

From pins badges and programmes to souvenirs, memorabilia and archive photographs – the exhibition is filled with all things Wolves.

It has been curated by Dr Andrew Yarnold and Tess Radcliffe of the gallery.

At a special pre-launch event held yesterday, Ms Radcliffe said: “We weren’t given that much time to put it together. It took us about a month to complete in total.

“I’ve learnt something about football doing it and lots about the history of the club. Wolves is a really important club and had such a varied history.

“It’s been something different for me and got me interested in the culture around football.

“We’re hoping to get families and new visitors coming along that might not have come to the gallery before. And a lot of dads too.

“The 1960 FA Cup match which features in the exhibition happened on May 7, which was a nice link with this year’s celebrations happening on the same date.”

WATCH highlights from the exhibition

Russell Jones, head of marketing at Wolves, added: “Football is all about memories. To see the thousand of happy fans in the city was incredible. Everyone can be really proud of how the day went.

“Out of darkness cometh light – I like to think the darkness is behind us and we’re very much in the light, both in terms of the city and football club.”

The work of Express and Star’s photographer Tim Sturgess as well other pieces from Wolverhampton Council, Signal 107and the club itself will feature.

Tim is delighted to see his work feature in the exhibition at the Lichfield Street gallery, and captured the ‘defining’ image of the celebrations in Queen Square from the top floor of a city centre bank.

He said: “I am very flattered to have captured what is now regarded as the defining image of the day. From the moment I was on the rota to cover the event I had the idea for the photo in my head.

“That morning I was lucky enough for one bank in Queen Square to agree to let me use a third floor room to capture the parade from above.

“As with most photography, being in the right place at the right time really helps and once I was in position I just let the picture come to me.”

To support the exhibition there will be a range of family activities planned at the Lichfield Street gallery and in Wolfie’s Den at Molineux on matchdays.

The exhibition will run until October 28 and can be viewed during normal gallery opening hours from Monday to Saturday.