Wolverhampton Wanderers
1982–83 season
ChairmanDerek Dougan
ManagerEngland Graham Hawkins
StadiumMolineux
Football League Second Division2nd (promoted)
Milk CupSecond round
FA CupFourth round
Top goalscorerLeague:
Mel Eves (18)
All:
Mel Eves (19)
Highest home attendance22,567 v Leeds United (Division Two, 3 January 1983)
Lowest home attendance11,856 v Middlesbrough (Division Two, 4 December 1982)
Average home league attendance15,683

The 1982–83 season was the 84th of competitive league football in the history of Wolverhampton Wanderers. They finished runners-up in the Second Division to win promotion back to the First Division after one season away.

Season summary

Wolves were relegated from the First Division at the end of the 1981–82 season and went into receivership as financial difficulties following construction of the new John Ireland stand caught up with them. They came close to liquidation but were saved at the eleventh hour by a consortium fronted by former player Derek Dougan.[1]

Dougan sacked manager Ian Greaves and replaced him with former Wolves teammate Graham Hawkins.[2] Hawkins named Jim Barron as his assistant and put Frank Upton in charge of the youth team with a brief that young players would be important to the first team due to the club's tight budget.[3] Indeed, three teenagers – Dave Wintersgill, Billy Livingstone and Paul Butler – made their debuts against Blackburn Rovers on the opening day of the new season.[4]

Wolves were unbeaten for the first 10 matches and also went 817 minutes without conceding a league goal. Both runs were ended by Leicester City on 16 October,[5] the first of five defeats in seven matches, but an 11-match unbeaten run followed and a 3–0 win over Leeds United on 3 January took Wolves six points clear at the top of the division. Promotion was secured by a 3–3 draw at Charlton Athletic on 2 May, despite Wolves struggling for form in the latter half of the campaign and eventually finishing 10 points behind champions Queens Park Rangers.[6]

Squad

Substitute appearances indicated in brackets
Pos. Nat. Name League Milk Cup FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK  ENG Paul Bradshaw 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
GK  ENG John Burridge 42 0 2 0 2 0 46 0
DF  IRE Hugh Atkinson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
DF  ENG Bobby Coy 15(3) 0 2 0 0 0 17(3) 0
DF  ENG Alan Dodd 27 3 0 0 2 0 29 3
DF  ENG Joe Gallagher 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
DF  ENG Mike Hollifield 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
DF  ENG John Humphrey 42 3 2 0 2 0 46 3
DF  ENG Geoff Palmer 40(1) 5 2 0 2 0 44(1) 5
DF  IRE John Pender 39 1 2 0 2 0 43 1
DF  SCO Gordon Smith 24(3) 2 1 0 2 0 27(3) 2
MF  ENG Paul Butler 1(7) 0 0(2) 0 0 0 1(9) 0
MF  ENG Ian Cartwright 7(2) 1 0 0 0 0 7(2) 1
MF  ENG Peter Daniel 13 0 2 0 0 0 15 0
MF  ENG Kenny Hibbitt 27(4) 2 1 0 2 1 30(4) 3
MF  SCO Billy Kellock 9 3 0 0 0 0 9 3
MF  IRE Anthony Kernan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
MF  ENG Mick Matthews 40 5 2 0 2 0 44 5
MF  ENG Dale Rudge 8 0 0 0 1 0 9 0
MF  ENG Dave Wintersgill 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
FW  ENG Wayne Clarke 38(1) 12 2 0 1 0 41(1) 12
FW  IRE John Croke 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FW  ENG Mel Eves 40 18 2 1 2 0 44 19
FW  SCO Andy Gray 33 10 1 0 2 0 36 10
FW  ENG Billy Livingstone 10(1) 3 1 0 0 0 11(1) 3
FW  ENG John Richards 2(2) 0 0 0 0 0 2(2) 0

[7]

Second Division

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Relegation
1 Queens Park Rangers (C, P) 42 26 7 9 77 36 +41 85 Promotion to the First Division
2 Wolverhampton Wanderers (P) 42 20 15 7 68 44 +24 75
3 Leicester City (P) 42 20 10 12 72 44 +28 70
4 Fulham 42 20 9 13 64 47 +17 69
5 Newcastle United 42 18 13 11 75 53 +22 67
Source:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted

Results

Second Division

28 August 1982 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 Blackburn Rovers Wolverhampton
Eves 48', 77' Garner 23' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 15,605
31 August 1982 2 Chelsea 0–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers London
Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 14,192
4 September 1982 3 Leeds United 0–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Leeds
Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 16,462
7 September 1982 4 Wolverhampton Wanderers 5–0 Charlton Athletic Wolverhampton
Eves 5'
Gray 41'
Palmer 50' (pen.)
Clarke 80'
Matthews 85'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 13,063
11 September 1982 5 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–0 Barnsley Wolverhampton
Humphrey 60'
Eves 65'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 15,065
18 September 1982 6 Bolton Wanderers 0–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Bolton
Livingstone 85' Stadium: Burnden Park
Attendance: 9264
2 October 1982 8 Carlisle United 0–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Carlisle
Smith 4'
Livingstone 36'		 Stadium: Brunton Park
Attendance: 7723
30 October 1982 11 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 Derby County Wolverhampton
Palmer 41' (pen.)
Gray 55'		 Wilson 61' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 13,802
2 November 1982 12 Cambridge United 2–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Cambridge
Lockhart 34'
Reilly 76'		 Eves 89' Stadium: Abbey Stadium
Attendance: 4571
6 November 1982 13 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–0 Grimsby Town Wolverhampton
Gray 15'
Eves 46'
Clarke 62'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 12,701
13 November 1982 14 Oldham Athletic 4–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Oldham
Ryan 15'
Wylde 50', 77', 86'		 Hibbitt 65' Stadium: Boundary Park
Attendance: 7962
20 November 1982 15 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–4 Fulham Wolverhampton
Clarke 10'
Gray 41'		 Lewington 26'
Davies 59', 73'
Wilson 85'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 14,447
27 November 1982 16 Crystal Palace 3–4 Wolverhampton Wanderers London
Cannon 2'
Jones 4'
Hinshelwood 55'		 Matthews 6', 72'
Clarke 33'
Gray 42'		 Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 10,225
4 December 1982 17 Wolverhampton Wanderers 4–0 Middlesbrough Wolverhampton
Eves 2', 31'
Cartwright 20'
Dodd 83'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 11,854
27 December 1982 20 Shrewsbury Town 0–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Shrewsbury
Clarke 34', 55' Stadium: Gay Meadow
Attendance: 13,336
28 December 1982 21 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–0 Burnley Wolverhampton
Eves 70'
Gray 89'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 21,961
1 January 1983 22 Fulham 1–3 Wolverhampton Wanderers London
Lewington 38' Pender 26'
Clarke 45'
Eves 76'		 Stadium: Craven Cottage
Attendance: 17,196
3 January 1983 23 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–0 Leeds United Wolverhampton
Clarke 32'
Gray 70'
Eves 84'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 22,567
15 January 1983 24 Blackburn Rovers 2–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Blackburn
Branagan 31'
Keeley 44'		 Matthews 55'
Dodd 62'		 Stadium: Ewood Park
Attendance: 7441
22 January 1983 25 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 Chelsea Wolverhampton
Eves 5'
Clarke 72'		 Pates 38' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 19,533
5 February 1983 26 Barnsley 2–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Barnsley
Banks 15'
Parker 88'		 Smith 12' Stadium: Oakwell
Attendance: 13,575
12 February 1983 27 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 Carlisle United Wolverhampton
Eves 45'
Livingstone 89'		 Bannon 15' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 13,171
26 February 1983 28 Leicester City 5–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Leicester
Lynex 15', 39'
A. Smith 29'
Lineker 59'
Daly 74'		 Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 13,530
2 April 1983 34 Burnley 0–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Burnley
Palmer 7' Stadium: Turf Moor
Attendance: 9593
4 April 1983 35 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–2 Shrewsbury Town Wolverhampton
Palmer 13' (pen.)
Eves 16'		 Bates 36', 82' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 17,509
2 May 1983 40 Charlton Athletic 3–3 Wolverhampton Wanderers London
Smith 55'
White 57'
Hales 67'		 Kellock 10', 23'
Eves 33'		 Stadium: The Valley
Attendance: 7935
14 May 1983 42 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–2 Newcastle United Wolverhampton
Matthews 25'
Gray 39'		 McDonald 40'
Varadi 44'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 22,446

[8]

Milk Cup

5 October 1982 2nd Round 1st Leg Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–1 Sunderland Wolverhampton
Eves 40' Rowell 6' (pen.) Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 13,662
27 October 1982 2nd Round 2nd Leg Sunderland 5–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Sunderland
Chisholm 1', 10'
Hindmarch 9'
Rowell 16'
McCoist 55'		 Stadium: Roker Park
Attendance: 11,091

[8]

FA Cup

8 January 1983 3rd Round Tranmere Rovers 0–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Birkenhead
Hibbitt 69' Stadium: Prenton Park
Attendance: 10,803
29 January 1983 4th Round Aston Villa 1–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Birmingham
Withe 20' Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 43,121

[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Wolves are saved by last-minute deal". The Times. London. 31 July 1982. p. 17.
  2. ↑ Tossell 2012, p. 229
  3. ↑ Hawkins 2022, p. 103
  4. ↑ Hawkins 2022, p. 107
  5. ↑ Hawkins 2022, p. 109
  6. ↑ Hawkins 2022, p. 111
  7. ↑ Rothmans 1983-84, pp. 396–398
  8. 1 2 3 wolvescompletehistory.co.uk - 1982/83 Second Division
Bibliography
  • Tossell, David (2012). In Sunshine Or In Shadow: A Journey Through the Life of Derek Dougan. Pitch. ISBN 978-1-908051-39-4.
  • Hawkins, Kirstie (2022). A Marriage Made In Football. Amazon. ISBN 9798839490499.
  • Rothmans Football Yearbook 1983-84 (Editor: Tony Williams). London: Queen Anne Press. ISBN 0-356-09727-7.
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