Dave WAGSTAFFE

Dave Wagstaffe, or 'Waggy', as he was affectionately known to Wolves fans, proved an outstanding left winger in an era when 'wide men' were becoming an increasingly rare breed in the game. His pinpoint centres from the flanks, after turning his marker inside out, were the source of many successful scoring opportunities for teammates during his twelve year career at Molineux. Wagstaffe also possessed a strong, accurate shot from distance. Waggy joined Wanderers from hometown club Manchester City for £30, 000 in December 1964, at the age of 21. He made a Boxing Day debut at home against Aston Villa. Ironically, his last league game for Wolves was also against the same team. Despite Dave's contribution of 2 goals from 19 games, the club's senior status was lost, after 33 honour-filled years. In a further example of history repeating itself, Wolves were also relegated after Waggy departed in his final season, 1975/76. Though Wagstaffe scored 9 goals in 41 league & cup games in 1965/66 (his best-ever seasonal goal tally), Wolves failed to reclaim their place in the top flight, finishing sixth. The following season, Waggy was an ever-present for the only time in his stay at the club, and Wolves clinched promotion via the runners-up berth. Back amongst the elite, Wagstaffe excelled as a tormentor of full backs with his speed and trickery. He became, literally, a marked man - targetted by cynical defenders whose prime concern was to stop his progress by any means neccessary.

In spite of the treatment he was regularly subjected to, Waggy rarely failed to deliver his customary quality performance. The Molineux crowd would roar in anticipation every time he recieved the ball - they knew what was to come. The baggy number 11 shirt would flap about his wiry frame as he hugged the touchline in a crouching, scurrying style before flighting over inch-perfect crosses for the likes of Derek Dougan, John Richards, Bobby Gould and many other target men to feed off. Dave produced one of his particularly devastating displays against Chelsea, on a winter's day in December, 1969. Wolves triumphed 3-0 over the cosmopolitan London outfit, with Waggy firing home a spectacular long range shot past England international Peter Bonetti, as well as making the two other goals, via corners, for Hugh Curran. Wagstaffe's grace under pressure on the wing set him apart from the prevailing functional, defensive formations of the late 1960s/early 70s. He was adored by fans longing for a return to the golden days of his predecessors Hancocks & Mullen. Some small measure of glory came with a Texaco Cup winners' medal for Waggy in May 1971 - as Wolves defeated Hearts 3-1 on aggregate in the final of that competition. (Andy Lockett)

 The 1971/72 season saw Dave Wagstaffe gain his only representative honour, one sole appearance for the Football League versus the Scottish League - scant recognition for such a rich talent. It was a game in which his skilful fluidity shone through, making a mockery of Alf Ramsey's aversion to selecting players who ventured too close to the touchline with attacking intent, whilst in possession of the ball. Waggy clocked up 53 appearances in the gold and black that season, the most he ever achieved in a single season during his injury-prone career. This tally included 11 games in Wolves' UEFA Cup campaign, which ended in a two-legged all English final versus Spurs. Dave notched a typical long range thunderbolt in the second leg, at White Hart Lane, but it failed to make any ultimate difference, as Wolves lost 3-2 on aggregate. In November of that season, Wagstaffe produced another superb virtuoso display - this time against the reigning 'double' winners, Arsenal. On a memorable afternoon, as snow fell throughout the match, Waggy's genius mesmerised the Gunners' much-vaunted defence, as he produced a truly dazzling performance in freezing, treacherous conditions. He weighed in with a trademark goal, and Wolves' 5 - 1 win was captured for posterity by the 'Match of the Day' cameras. Waggy also found the net one week later in a close fought victory at the Hawthorns, over old rivals West Bromwich Albion.

Slowly, but surely the persistent ill-treatment of his legs and ankles was taking it's toll. Waggy failed to score in 31 starts during 1972/73, but still contributed significantly to Wolves final league placing (5th) and two semi-final appearances in the domestic cup competitions. In 1973/74 he scored just once - on New Year's Day, versus Southampton - in 41 outings, but was at last rewarded for his years of service to the club, as Wolves beat his old team Manchester City 2-1 in the League Cup final. Even in that game, potentially Dave's finest hour on Wembley's hallowed turf, injury forced him to be substituted in the second half. The story of his footballing life, so near - yet so far. Waggy featured 13 times in a Wolves shirt during 1974/75, scoring only once, in a 7-1 romp at home to Chelsea. This was to be his last goal for the club. He made just six appearances the following season, before leaving Wolves for Blackburn, in January 1976. The years of bruising challenges from frustrated opponents were now restricting Dave's ability to perform consistently well at the highest level. In a sad postscript to his career, Waggy became the first man to be dismissed from the field of play by means of a red card, whilst at Rovers. Dave Wagstaffe totalled 404 appearances for Wolves in all competitons, scoring 31 goals, and will be remembered as one of the Wanderers all-time greats. (Andy Lockett)

After retiring from football Dave Wagstaffe ran the Queenscliffe Hotel and became steward of the Bispham Conservative Club in Blackpool, before returning to Wolverhampton and running the Butler's Arms in Bushbury, the Old Wulfrunians Club in Castlecroft and Waggy's Bar in the Stan Cullis Stand at Molineux.

In January 2013, Wagstaffe was inducted into Wolverhampton Wanderers' Hall of Fame. He suffered a heart attack in April 2013 and died at his home in Wolverhampton on 6 August 2013 after a short illness, aged 70.

His funeral, attended by hundreds of fans, took place at Wolverhampton's St Peter's Collegiate Church on 22 August 2013.