Wolverhampton Archives and Local Studies

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Wolverhampton Archives keeps documents, maps, books, photos, newspapers and more relating to the history of areas now within the city of Wolverhampton.

If you are interested in any aspect of Wolverhampton's history, Wolverhampton Archives and Local Studies can help. We have documents, maps, books, photos, censuses, newspapers etc. relating to the history of all areas now within the present city of Wolverhampton including Bilston, Bushbury, Penn, Tettenhall and Wednesfield. Search our catalogues on the Black Country History website: blackcountryhistory.org

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Take a look at some of our images on Flickr: Wolverhampton Arts + Heritage

Take a look at the Smith, Son & Wilkie cataloguing project blog: takingaccountproject.wordpress.com

15/10/2026

Dick Dorsett (1919 - 1999)
Known as the "Brownhills Bomber", Dick joined Wolverhampton Wanderers FC as a teenager. In April 1938, he scored four goals in a 10-1 thriller against Leicester City Football Club. The accompanying newspaper cutting (ref: DW-209/1/3) describes the match as his first team debut, but it appears his debut may have taken place a few weeks earlier. A prolific forward, he scored 32 league goals in 46 appearances and was Wolves' only goalscorer in the 1939 FA Cup Final at Wembley, which they lost to Portsmouth Football Club. His playing career was interrupted by the Second World War, during which he served in the RAF and later helped Wolves win the 1942 Football League War Cup. After the war, he joined Aston Villa FC, initially as a player and later coaching the club's youth team.

14/10/2026

Tom Galley (1915 - 1999)
Born in Hednesford, Staffordshire, Tom Galley was one of Wolverhampton Wanderers FC's most versatile and dependable pre-war players - a contemporary account states that in 4 previous games he had played at centre-forward, inside-right, centre-half and inside-left. Joining Wolves in 1934, he made more than 180 league appearances, scoring 41 goals, and played in the side that reached the 1939 FA Cup Final. He won 2 caps for the England football team in 1937, scoring on his debut against Norway. Entry from scrapbook ref: DW-209/1/3.

13/10/2026

Tonight Wolverhampton Wanderers FC will be facing Bolton. The two sides have met 138 times, with Wolves and Bolton each winning around 40% of those matches. Wolves's biggest victory came in 1950, when they beat Bolton 7-1, while their heaviest defeat was a 6-0 loss in 1890.

The images show a goal from Hancocks hitting the back of Bolton's net in 1950 (ref: D-EXP/S/WW/11); a match report from September 1937 (ref: DW-209/1/3); an article from the Express & Star following a match in 1885 (ref: LS/07EXP/534); and a programme from 1994.

08/10/2026

Wilfred George Lowton (1899 - 1963)
Wilf was one of Wolverhampton Wanderers FC's outstanding inter-war players. A right full-back and club captain, he made 198 appearances and scored 25 goals for the team between 1929 and 1935. So highly regarded was Lowton that one contemporary newspaper described him as "one of the most popular and best players Wolves have ever had". He later joined Exeter City, but remained one of the most respected figures of his era at Molineux. This image shows a press cutting marking his return to the team in 1935 (ref: DW-209/1/1)

06/10/2026

David Instone
For more than three decades, David Instone reported on Wanderers FC for Express & Star, documenting some of the club's highest highs and lowest lows. A prolific author and co-founder of the Wolves Heroes website (https://www.wolvesheroes.com/), he has helped preserve the stories of countless players, managers and supporters, ensuring that key chapters of Wolves history are not forgotten. Through his writing, books and research, Instone has played a significant role in recording and sharing the club's heritage. This photograph shows David (left) boarding a plane at Birmingham International Airport, which was transporting Wolves supporters to a match in Newcastle (ref: D-EXP/P/A86/28).

01/10/2026

George Laking (1913 - 1997)
George signed for Wolverhampton Wanderers FC as a defender in 1934. He made a number of appearances for the Reserve team before he made his first-team debut against Grimsby Town in November 1935. Local newspapers described his debut as "auspicious" and reported that he had come "through with flying colours, very rarely putting a foot wrong". On his home debut against Liverpool, he was cheered for his "splendid tackling". In 1936, he moved to Middlesbrough FC. These photos from a scrapbook (Ref: DW-209/1/1) show him in action during a "public practice match" in 1934.

29/09/2026

Brynmor Jones (1912 - 1985)
A Welsh international, Bryn played for Wolverhampton Wanderers FC between 1933 and 1938, before signing for Arsenal for a then British record transfer fee of £14,000. He made 163 league appearances and scored 52 goals for Wolves. He won 17 caps for Wales between 1935 and 1948. The image is a press cutting from a scrapbook about Wolves 1934-35 (ref: DW-209/1/1) which details Bryn's return to the first team after injury.

25/09/2026

Tonight, Molineux plays host to the England football team Under-21s, who face Kazakhstan in a UEFA EURO qualification match.

The first ever England Under-21 international took place at Molineux fifty years ago in 1976, with England facing Wales. The England team included some familiar Wanderers FC names - Paul Bradshaw, Dave Jones, Andy King and Glenn Hoddle. However, Alan Sunderland was the only Wolves player in the England squad at the time. The match ended in a goalless draw.

A rather more dramatic incident occurred on 8 October 1996, when England Under-21s were due to face Poland at Molineux. At the height of IRA activity, a suspect package wrapped in foil was discovered in the stadium, delaying kick-off and prompting a controlled explosion. The package turned out to be nothing more than a sandwich, and the match eventually got underway at 10 pm, again ending in a 0-0 draw.

The images show the England senior players, including Billy Wright, during a training camp at Molineux, before an international against Spain in 1955 (ref: D-EXP/S/WW/344); a 1976 Express & Star match preview focussing on Alan Sunderland (ref: LS/07EXP/665); and reports on the 1996 bomb scare (ref: LS/07EXP/122).

24/09/2026

Joe Gardiner (1916 - 1997)
Described as a left half-back, Joe was originally from County Durham. He won 11 football medals whilst still at school before leaving Bearpark Juniors to join Wolverhampton Wanderers FC in 1932. He went on to make more than 120 league appearances for the club and played in the 1939 FA Cup Final. A press cutting in a scrapbook 1938 - 1940 (ref: DW-209/1/4) describes him as "tireless, tenacious and rapid and precise in movement". After retiring as a player he remained at Molineux as a trainer and scout, playing an important role behind the scenes during the club's golden era under Stan Cullis.

22/09/2026

Fred Powell
Fred worked as a groundsman at Molineux, playing an important role in the day-to-day running of the club. This photograph dated 10 August 1957 shows him "spraying the playing area with one of the stimulants that will make for better and greener grass." (ref: D-EXP/S/WW/69)

Address

Molineux Hotel Building, Whitmore Hill
Wolverhampton
WV11SF

Website

http://www.blackcountryhistory.org/

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