The arrival of Mel Eves as the newest member of Wolves FPA committee, is another sign of how the organisation is growing and having more influence across the local community.
Strong working relationships have been forged with many local charities, such as Wolves Foundation, Compton Care, the Good Shepherd, the Haven, the Grand Theatre, Nuffield Health and the Crafty Gardener, both in terms of making donations but also supporting projects.
On top of that, the FPA are also backing the continuing research at national level into the links between football and conditions such as dementia and CTE which many former players have been diagnosed with, including the need to provide care and provision for those former players affected.
Wolves FPA was founded back in 1988, when, at the funeral of Jimmy Mullen, former players decided it was time to have more regular meet-ups and not just at sad occasions such as marking the passing of friends and ex-colleagues.
The first President was Stan Cullis, and the first Chairman Billy Wright, and others have held those positions since include Ron Flowers, Mike Bailey and Malcolm Finlayson.
In terms of former players, the committee now comprises John Richards as chairman, Steve Daley as vice-chairman, Geoff Palmer, Phil Parkes, Matt Murray, Andy Thompson and Eves. Richard Green serves as administration manager, Paul Berry with PR and Communications, and Michelle Westwood in finance.
The honorary secretary and driving force for many years was Express & Star director Peter Creed, upon whose excellent work Green has built on in recent years, working closely with Richards and the committee to refresh the organisation.
“It is almost a decade-and-a-half since I first became involved with Wolves FPA, initially providing support to Peter, and then helping to take the organisation forward after he started to step back,” says Green.
“In those early days it was very much a case of maintaining the social side of the FPA, ensuring that through organising regular dinners, the former players were still able to meet up together.
“However, with the ageing profile of that original committee, it was also time to restructure the FPA and look forward to a change in direction and recognise the opportunity to become more involved with the charities that support the local community.
“Sadly, we have since lost many of the original group, so many Wolves heroes, but we were able to recruit many of the great players from the 1970’s onto the committee and focus on the many local charities we support today.
“John Richards and Steve Daley were two of those who were welcomed onto the new team, and it has been a pleasure and a privilege to work alongside those two and so many other good people in helping the FPA become more and more influential across the community.
“The level of support we offer many different charities and community groups, and the interaction the former players are able to enjoy whilst helping others, is always wonderful to observe.
“It is a sign of just how much we are involved in now that we need the additional help and support that Mel will bring, and we are all very proud to be part of a former players’ association which delivers such a positive impact within the city.”
Wolves FPA are now also appreciative of the support of several website sponsors – The Fox at Shipley, Sevlow, Nuffield Health and the Grand Theatre – which help them deliver that support to the community.
