Once a Wolf
After one season away from Molineux, on loan at struggling Everton, Wolves have finally announced the departure of their captain Conor Coady. Eight years on from his arrival in the West Midlands Coady has joined Leicester City for roughly £7 million.
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| Wolves' farewell to Coady on Twitter |
Having arrived from Huddersfield Town in July 2015 for £2 million Coady established himself as a fan favourite early on. Wolves had been grappling in the third tier of English football (League One) just two years ahead of Coady’s arrival.
By the title winning year of 2017 Coady had occasionally held the role and responsibilities of captain in the absence of Danny Batth from the team. Wolves had secured their promotion to the Premier League once again. Things were beginning to change in the lives of Conor Coady, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and myself.
2017 was when I began seeing Charley. Once introduced to one another we immediately clicked and before long it was time to make family introductions. With Brechin very much having that small town characteristic of knowing almost any face you pass by I already knew a lot of Charley’s family members. I was even at school with her cousin for an example of Brechin’s small-town nature, but I was yet to make perhaps the most important introduction of all.
Stephen. The father!
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| Stephen ensuring he got the badge in |
As a young lad it’s almost the most daunting thought of all being brought before the father. And from Charley’s stories I could tell they had a close bond which only furthered my anxiety of Stephen’s protective instincts kicking into full throttle. Charley reminding me of his military service didn’t exactly de-escalate the dread I felt.
Before long the day came that I agreed to bite the bullet, face my fears, and meet the father.
Small talk, weather, plans for the day, etc. all seemed to occupy much of the initial meetings between Stephen and I. There was no immediate mutual interest I could establish. Stephen appeared to be an absolute sucker for daytime television such as Four in A Bed, Come Dine with Me, etc. Both of which, to this day, have very little appeal with me.
I also wasn’t sure whether to try and delve into his army career as I had heard that some people tend to be very standoffish about such discussions.
After a little while of awkward discussions it clicked. Charley had told me from the get-go that Stephen was originally from Wolverhampton. I’ll play the football card!
I played the football card, and that card worked.
Now, I don’t think you would class Stephen as a fanatic. He wasn’t frantically scrambling through channels to find a football match at any given moment, and he wouldn’t dare think of streaming a game online, largely due to his sub-par computer skills. I think that would be fair to call it.
But two teams occupied Stephen’s heart. His birth nation of England, and his Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Again, a Sky Sports or BT Sports subscription didn’t appeal to Stephen, simply, if there weren’t three lions or a wolf on the chest he really wasn’t fussed.
But any Wolves and England match televised on the BBC or ITV you could guarantee he would be watching. This included Match of the Day.
There was my conversation started. A few simple words: “Did you see the Wolves game?”
Wolves would turn out to be the foundation of my relationship with Stephen. He would soon tell me stories of games he’d watched, trips to Molineux, and the tale all Wolves supporters love to tell of the one and only Steve Bull.
‘Bully’ is far and away Wolves’ greatest ever player. Their top scorer with over 300 goals, Steve Bull was a hero of Stephen’s, and it is clear to see why.
I don’t recall exactly when it was, but I entered Stephen’s flat one day, and amidst another Wolves discussion, he declared Conor Coady the best player he’d seen for Wolves since his hero Bully, and his current favourite at the club.
In 2019 Wolves played European football for the first time in 39 years with captain Conor Coady featuring in every single minute of continental football for the club that season.
Shortly after the European run was over Stephen continued to sing Coady’s praises. This time he insisted that Gareth Southgate take notice and call the Wolves skipper up to the national team.
And on September 8, 2020, Southgate did take notice. Conor Coady received his first call-up for the three lions, becoming the first Wolves player to start a game for England since 1990, when who else but Steve Bull pulled on the famous white jersey.
I only knew Stephen for around five years, but it feels like so much more. While the conversations didn’t focus on Wolves every time that we spoke it remained frequent and will always be the starting point.
I soon found myself cheering on the club with him. One Christmas I was sent a video from Charley where she captured the delight of Stephen and her younger brother as they unwrapped my gift that year. A gold Wolves shirt each. I couldn’t resist but to join in and purchase one for myself shortly after.
I grew up as the usual "glory hunting" Manchester United supporter, following my local club Brechin City, and cheering on a few others on the side, but the buzz of supporting Wolves alongside Stephen was different.
When I said goodbye to Stephen in summer 2021, I promised him that I would continue to cheer on his club for him. I didn’t want the Wolfpack to lose a member.
Football is incredible. It’s a game but it can evoke so many emotions.
Shortly after Stephen’s passing England lost the Euro 2020 final, and where Charley would otherwise have little interest, or root against Stephen’s beloved England, she was as engrossed in the game as the rest of us.
This past season Wolves stumbled their way to the finish line and managed to avoid the drop. The same cannot be said for Coady’s new employers Leicester City, who were relegated from the Premier League despite defying the odds and winning it less than 10 years ago.
One of Stephen’s close friends just so happens to be a Leicester City fan and I could imagine the back and forth over their relegation as well as the capture of Coady’s signature.
Earlier this year Charley and I travelled down to Newcastle to continue providing that support for Wolves at St James’ Park. It was our first Wolves game and on the train down Charley reflected on how she would love to have shared the experience with Stephen.
It’s one of the sports oldest clichés but it really goes to show that football is much more than just a game.
Conor Coady’s departure marks the end of an era in more ways than one, and it really is devastating to see, but for me he’ll always be the captain, the leader of the pack. He doesn’t know it but him and that club have left a huge mark on the lives of many others. Once a Wolf always a Wolf.
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