2008–09 Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. season

The 2008–09 season was the 110th season of competitive league football in the history of English football club Wolverhampton Wanderers. They played the season in the second tier of the English football system, the Football League Championship. The season turned out to be a major success as the club finished top of the division and were therefore promoted back to the Premier League after a five-year absence.

Wolverhampton Wanderers
2008–09 season
ChairmanSteve Morgan OBE
ManagerMick McCarthy
Football League Championship1st
(3rd divisional title)
FA Cup4th round
League Cup2nd round
Top goalscorerLeague: Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (25)
All: Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (25)
Highest home attendance28,252 (vs Doncaster, 3 May 2009)
Lowest home attendance9,424 (vs Accrington Stanley, 12 August 2008)
Average home league attendance24,153

The team enjoyed their best start to the season for almost fifty years, winning seven of their opening eight games and scoring 23 goals in the process. They led the table continuously from October until the season's end, when they were crowned champions, winning their first silverware in 20 years. Leading goalscorer Sylvan Ebanks-Blake also finished as the division's top scorer for a second consecutive season.

Season review

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The close season saw the club continue their policy of signing young players with potential from the lower leagues, rather than pursuing their heavy investment strategy of early times. The close season saw the likes of Richard Stearman,[1] David Jones[2] and Sam Vokes[3] arrive, along with the experience of Chris Iwelumo,[4] while making a transfer profit with the sale of players such as Seyi Olofinjana,[5] Jay Bothroyd[6] and Freddy Eastwood.[7] The squad was also boosted by retaining their most valuable assets in Wayne Hennessey, Michael Kightly and the division's top goalscorer of last season, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake.

The season saw the club's strongest start since 1949–50, as a draw away to Plymouth preceded two runs of seven consecutive wins — scoring 23 goals and conceding only seven goals in the first eight games. Transfer deadline day saw the club add further defensive strength as three new defenders joined the ranks — George Friend,[8] Matt Hill[9] and Jason Shackell.[10] Although their winning streak was ended by a 3–0 home defeat to promotion rivals Reading, as well as a 5–2 defeat at Norwich, which saw Wolves surrender top spot to Birmingham City, Wolves rediscovered their winning form for the second run of seven consecutive wins to lead the table at Christmas.

After drawing their final two fixtures of 2008, Wolves endured a dismal start to 2009, winning just once in eleven league fixtures. Trying to arrest this slump, the January transfer window saw the arrival of three new faces: Kyel Reid[11] and Nigel Quashie[12] on loan for the remainder of the season from West Ham United; defender Christophe Berra also joined from Scottish club Hearts for £2.3million.[13] The FA Cup had brought some cheer with a fringe squad winning 2–0 at local rivals Birmingham in the 3rd round, before the club exited the competition with a 2–1 home defeat to Premier League side Middlesbrough.

Weathering their bad run of league form, Wolves managed to regain an air of consistency, reinventing their game from the free-flowing, free-scoring football of the first third of the season to hold down a string of clean sheets and one goal margin victories against Crystal Palace and Sheffield Wednesday. With promotion rivals Birmingham City and Reading unable to take advantage of their poor run, March saw an upturn in Wolves' league form as the club took 13 points from a possible 15, strengthening their position at the top of the table that they had led since October.

With just seven games left on the Championship calendar, Aston Villa striker Marlon Harewood was loaned for the run-in,[14] though the team were also hit by the news that key midfielder Michael Kightly would miss the remainder of the season after suffering a broken metatarsal in his foot.[15] Further injury woe struck when Chris Iwelumo suffered medial ligament damage in a loss to local rivals Birmingham in April that ended a five-game unbeaten run.[16]

 
Championship trophy presentation at Molineux on the final day of the 2008-09 season.

However, Easter weekend brought 3–0 home win against struggling Southampton, followed by a 3–2 away victory at Derby County that gave Wolves a seven-point lead over third-placed Sheffield United. Promotion to the Premier League was confirmed on 18 April 2009 when a goal from Ebanks-Blake gave Wolves a 1–0 win over Queens Park Rangers. Seven days later, Wolves clinched their first league title since the 1988–89 season — and their first title at second-tier level since 1976–77 — after a 1–1 draw at Barnsley brought the point they required for the title.

Wolves completed their season with a 1–0 home win over Doncaster Rovers, after which they were presented with the Championship trophy to crown their most successful season in decades as they returned to the top flight after a five-year absence.

Results

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Pre season

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Wolves conducted a short three-match tour of Scotland, their first visit in three years. As had become common in recent years, only their final game was held at their Molineux home. A second "Wolves XI" team largely comprising academy prospects and out of favour senior players also played a series of matches during this period.

12 July 2008 Wrexham 1–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Wrexham
15:00 BST Baynes   49' Report Stadium: Racecourse Ground
Attendance: 2,749
Referee: Steve Cummins
16 July 2008 Hereford United 1–3 Wolverhampton Wanderers Hereford
20:00 BST Guinan   17' (pen.) Report Kightly   30'
Ward   47', 75'
Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 1,539
Referee: Patrick Keane
20 July 2008 Dundee 0–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Dundee
15:00 BST Report Ebanks-Blake   90' Stadium: Dens Park
Attendance: 2,091
Referee: Stephen Finnie
23 July 2008 Motherwell 1–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Motherwell
19:30 BST McGarry   3' Report Ebanks-Blake   20' Stadium: Fir Park
Attendance: 2,238
Referee: Eddie Smith
26 July 2008 Kilmarnock 0–3 Wolverhampton Wanderers Kilmarnock
14:00 BST Report Iwelumo   24', 56'
Vokes   32'
Stadium: Rugby Park
Attendance: 2,410
Referee: Alan Muir
29 July 2008 Walsall 0–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Walsall
19:45 BST Report Keogh   51' Stadium: Banks's Stadium
Attendance: 4,002
Referee: Steve Bratt
2 August 2008 Wolverhampton Wanderers 4–2 Blackburn Rovers Wolverhampton
15:00 BST Elokobi   9'
Keogh   23'
Iwelumo   59' (pen.)
Jarvis   75'
Report Derbyshire   16'
Santa Cruz   24'
Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 10,238
Referee: Andrew Penn

"Wolves XI" pre season results (all away): 4–1 v Chasetown (18 July), 1–2 v Rhyl (26 July), 2–0 v Stafford Rangers (5 August)

Football League Championship

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A total of 24 teams competed in the Championship in the 2008–09 season. Each team would play every other team twice, once at their stadium, and once at the opposition's. Three points were awarded to teams for each win, one point per draw, and none for defeats. The provisional fixture list was released on 16 June 2008, but was subject to change in the event of matches being selected for television coverage.[17]

9 August 2008 1 Plymouth Argyle 2–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Plymouth
15:00 BST Fallon   7'
Seip   55'
Report Kightly   19'
Vokes   78'
Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 14,789 (2,689 away fans)
Referee: Kevin Friend
16 August 2008 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 4–1 Sheffield Wednesday Wolverhampton
15:00 BST Iwelumo   28', 59'
Ebanks-Blake   54' (pen.)
Edwards   90+1'
Report Esajas   15' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 22,491 (2,014 away fans)
Referee: Mike Jones
23 August 2008 3 Ipswich Town 0–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Ipswich
15:00 BST Report Ebanks-Blake   21'
Edwards   78'
Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 21,483 (1,412 away fans)
Referee: Steve Tanner
30 August 2008 4 Wolverhampton Wanderers 5–1 Nottingham Forest Wolverhampton
15:00 BST Jones   14'
Morgan   29' (o.g.)
Kightly   43', 62'
Iwelumo   45'
Report Stearman   55' (o.g.) Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 25,301 (2,591 away fans)
Referee: Grant Hegley
13 September 2008 5 Charlton Athletic 1–3 Wolverhampton Wanderers London
15:00 BST Bailey   3' Report Ebanks-Blake   61' (pen.)
Vokes   81', 87'
Stadium: The Valley
Attendance: 21,547 (2,873 away fans)
Referee: Anthony Taylor
16 September 2008 6 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 Crystal Palace Wolverhampton
19:45 BST Ebanks-Blake   1'
Keogh   58'
Report Ifill   32' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 22,200 (409 away fans)
Referee: Scott Mathieson
20 September 2008 7 Preston North End 1–3 Wolverhampton Wanderers Preston
15:00 BST Mellor   90+5' (pen.) Report Iwelumo   36', 66', 72' (pen.) Stadium: Deepdale
Attendance: 17,567 (2,992 away fans)
Referee: Martin Atkinson
27 September 2008 8 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–0 Bristol City Wolverhampton
12:30 BST Kightly   17'
Ebanks-Blake   68'
Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 24,324 (1,632 away fans)
Referee: Phil Crossley
30 September 2008 9 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0–3 Reading Wolverhampton
19:45 BST Report Hennessey   4' (o.g.)
Bikey   71'
Cissé   88'
Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 24,302 (618 away fans)
Referee: Rob Shoebridge
4 October 2008 10 Swansea City 3–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Swansea
15:00 BST Gomez   1'
Scotland   41', 57'
Report Keogh   16' Stadium: Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 17,556 (2,578 away fans)
Referee: Trevor Kettle
18 October 2008 11 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 Coventry City Wolverhampton
15:00 BST Kightly   42'
Ebanks-Blake   59'
Report Mifsud   6' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 25,893 (2,561 away fans)
Referee: Steve Bennett
21 October 2008 12 Norwich City 5–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Norwich
19:45 BST Ikeme   28' (o.g.)
Lita   39', 58', 70'
Croft   75'
Report Collins   41'
Ebanks-Blake   67' (pen.)
Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 24,351 (885 away fans)
Referee: Graham Horwood
25 October 2008 13 Watford 2–3 Wolverhampton Wanderers Watford
15:00 BST Rasiak   21'
O'Toole   47'
Smith   61'
Report Iwelumo   1'
Jones   40'
Gray   71'
Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 16,386 (2,268 away fans)
Referee: Keith Woolmer
28 October 2008 14 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 Swansea City Wolverhampton
19:45 GMT Ebanks-Blake   45', 57' Report Pratley   49' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 21,988 (1,429 away fans)
Referee: Richard Beeby
1 November 2008 15 Cardiff City 1–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Cardiff
17:20 GMT McCormack   19' Report Iwelumo   4'
Ebanks-Blake   8'
Stadium: Ninian Park
Attendance: 17,734 (314 away fans)
Referee: Steve Tanner
8 November 2008 16 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–0 Burnley Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Kightly   31', 75' Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 23,711 (1,088 away fans)
Referee: Darren Deadman
15 November 2008 17 Southampton 1–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Southampton
15:00 GMT Pearce   21' Report Iwelumo   8'
Jones   17'
Stadium: St Mary's Stadium
Attendance: 17,812 (2,849 away fans)
Referee: Lee Mason
22 November 2008 18 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–0 Blackpool Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Iwelumo   30', 66' Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 22,044 (895 away fans)
Referee: Andy D'Urso
25 November 2008 19 Sheffield United 1–3 Wolverhampton Wanderers Sheffield
19:45 GMT Spring   75' Report Iwelumo   5', 59'
Ebanks-Blake   63'
Stadium: Bramall Lane
Attendance: 27,111 (1,488 away fans)
Referee: Graham Laws
29 November 2008 20 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–1 Birmingham City Wolverhampton
12:30 GMT Ebanks-Blake   74' Report Jerome   47' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 26,329 (2,588 away fans)
Referee: Paul Taylor
6 December 2008 21 Queens Park Rangers 1–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers London
17:20 GMT Rowlands   63' Report Stadium: Loftus Road
Attendance: 13,416 (1,515 away fans)
Referee: Iain Williamson
9 December 2008 22 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–0 Derby County Wolverhampton
19:45 GMT Ebanks-Blake   2' (pen.), 58'
Edwards   40'
Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 21,326 (1,298 away fans)
Referee: Grant Hegley
13 December 2008 23 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–0 Barnsley Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Hassell   19' (o.g.)
Foley   86'
Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 22,399 (268 away fans)
Referee: Graham Salisbury
20 December 2008 24 Doncaster Rovers 0–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Doncaster
15:00 GMT Report Collins   81' Stadium: Keepmoat Stadium
Attendance: 13,669 (3,216 away fans)
Referee: Kevin Wright
26 December 2008 25 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–1 Sheffield United Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Collins   19' Report Beattie   22' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 27,106 (2,201 away fans)
Referee: Tony Bates
29 December 2008 26 Blackpool 2–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Blackpool
19:45 GMT Taylor-Fletcher   10'
Edwards   84'
Report Ebanks-Blake   4' (pen.)
Jarvis   70'
Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 8,906 (1,648 away fans)
Referee: Kevin Friend
10 January 2009 27 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–3 Preston North End Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Ebanks-Blake   20' Report Elliot   24', 61'
St Ledger   41'
Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 26,138 (1,030 away fans)
Referee: Colin Webster
17 January 2009 28 Bristol City 2–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Bristol
17:20 GMT Adebola   58'
Maynard   87'
Report Collins   45'
Jarvis   54'
Stadium: Ashton Gate
Attendance: 16,749 (1,332 away fans)
Referee: Mark Haywood
27 January 2009 29 Reading 1–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Reading
20:00 GMT Collins   2' (o.g.) Report Stadium: Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 23,009 (2,000 away fans)
Referee: Russell Booth
31 January 2009 30 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–1 Watford Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Ebanks-Blake   23'
Keogh   67'
Vokes   90'
Report Mariappa   81' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 23,571 (543 away fans)
Referee: Nigel Miller
3 February 2009 31 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–3 Norwich City Wolverhampton
19:45 GMT Ebanks-Blake   25', 54', 56' Report Croft   32'
Cort   47'
Doherty   65'
Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 21,654 (211 away fans)
Referee: Keith Woolmer
7 February 2009 32 Coventry City 2–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Coventry
15:00 GMT Doyle   25'
McKenzie   75'
Report Vokes   72'
Ebanks-Blake   90+6'
Stadium: Ricoh Arena
Attendance: 21,167 (4,276 away fans)
Referee: Michael Oliver
14 February 2009 33 Burnley 1–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Burnley
15:00 GMT McCann   6' Report Stadium: Turf Moor
Attendance: 13,515 (1,496 away fans)
Referee: Clive Oliver
22 February 2009 34 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–2 Cardiff City Wolverhampton
13:00 GMT Ebanks-Blake   11'
Konstantopoulos   81' (o.g.)
Report Chopra   31'
Johnson   48'
Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 22,093 (1,203 away fans)
Referee: Darren Deadman
28 February 2009 35 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0–1 Plymouth Argyle Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Report Gallagher   1' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 25,710 (719 away fans)
Referee: Carl Boyeson
3 March 2009 36 Crystal Palace 0–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers London
20:00 GMT Report Ebanks-Blake   74' (pen.) Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 14,907 (1,226 away fans)
Referee: Graham Horwood
7 March 2009 37 Sheffield Wednesday 0–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Sheffield
15:00 GMT Report Ebanks-Blake   5' Stadium: Hillsborough
Attendance: 23,703 (2,695 away fans)
Referee: Scott Mathieson
10 March 2009 38 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0–0 Ipswich Town Wolverhampton
19:45 GMT Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 22,227 (618 away fans)
Referee: Graham Salisbury
14 March 2009 39 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 Charlton Athletic Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Iwelumo   36'
Ebanks-Blake   70'   79'
Report Zhi   51' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 24,319 (141 away fans)
Referee: Graham Laws
21 March 2009 40 Nottingham Forest 0–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Nottingham
15:00 GMT Report Kightly   76' Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 24,510 (5,279 away fans)
Referee: Phil Crossley
6 April 2009 41 Birmingham City 2–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Birmingham
19:45 BST Jerome   45+4'
O'Connor   69'
Report Stadium: St Andrew's
Attendance: 25,935 (2,700 away fans)
Referee: Mark Halsey
10 April 2009 42 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–0 Southampton Wolverhampton
15:15 BST Vokes   1'
Craddock   6'
Jones   19' (pen.)
Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 24,636 (823 away fans)
Referee: Anthony Taylor
13 April 2009 43 Derby County 2–3 Wolverhampton Wanderers Derby
15:00 BST Kazmierczak   30'
Sterjovski   55'
Report Keogh   7', 87'
Jarvis   74'
Stadium: Pride Park
Attendance: 33,079 (3,100 away fans)
Referee: Paul Taylor
18 April 2009 44 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–0 Queens Park Rangers Wolverhampton
15:00 BST Ebanks-Blake   46' Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 27,511 (812 away fans)
Referee: Jon Moss
25 April 2009 45 Barnsley 1–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Barnsley
15:00 BST Macken   58' Report Reid   84' Stadium: Oakwell
Attendance: 18,288 (5,869 away fans)
Referee: Kevin Friend
3 May 2009 46 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–0 Doncaster Rovers Wolverhampton
13:15 BST Stearman   90' Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 28,252 (1,500 away fans)
Referee: Richard Beeby

Final table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 46 27 9 10 80 52 +28 90
2 Birmingham City 46 23 14 9 54 37 +17 83
3 Sheffield United 46 22 14 10 64 39 +25 80

Results summary

Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
46 27 9 10 80 52  +28 90 15 5 3 44 21  +23 12 4 7 36 31  +5

Source: Statto.com

Results by round

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
ResultDWWWWWWWLLWLWWWWWWWDLWWWDDLDLWDLLDLWWDWWLWWWDW
Position10421111112122111111111111111111111111111111111
Source: Statto.com
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

FA Cup

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13 January 2009 R3 Birmingham City 0–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Birmingham
19:45 GMT Report Keogh   38'
Vokes   51'
Stadium: St Andrew's
Attendance: 22,232 (4,024 away fans)
Referee: Howard Webb
24 January 2009 R4 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–2 Middlesbrough Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Vokes   63' Report Alves   44'
Emnes   83'
Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 18,013 (2,164 away fans)
Referee: Rob Styles

League Cup

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12 August 2008 R1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–2 (a.e.t.) Accrington Stanley Wolverhampton
19:45 BST Iwelumo   73', 102'
Davies   106'
Report Mullin   40'
Craney   104'
Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 9,424
Referee: Jon Moss

Players

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Statistics

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Key:
  ‡ On loan from another club   * First appearance(s) for the club

Correct as of end of season. Starting appearances are listed first, followed by substitute appearances in parentheses where applicable.

No.PosNamePGPGPGPG     Notes
League FA CupLeague CupTotalDiscipline
1 GK   Wayne Hennessey 34(1) 0 2 0 1 0 37(1) 0 0 1
2 DF   Neill Collins 20(3) 4 2 0 2 0 24(3) 4 2 1
3 DF   George Elokobi 3(1) 0 0 0 1 0 4(1) 0 0 0
4 MF   David Edwards 23(21) 3 2 0 2 0 27(21) 3 3 0
5 DF   Richard Stearman 32(5) 1 1 0 2 0 35(5) 1 6 1
6 DF   Jody Craddock (c) 17 1 0 0 0 0 17 1 2 0
7 MF   Michael Kightly 37(1) 8 1(1) 0 1 0 39(2) 8 7 0
8 MF   Karl Henry 42(1) 0 2 0 2 0 44(1) 0 12 0
9 FW   Sylvan Ebanks-Blake 41 25 0(2) 0 0(1) 0 41(3) 25 2 0
10 FW   Andy Keogh 21(21) 5 1(1) 1 1(1) 0 23(23) 6 3 0
11 DF   Stephen Ward 38(4) 0 1 0 1 0 40(4) 0 3 0
12 GK   Shane Higgs 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
13 GK   Darren Ward 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
14 MF   David Jones 31(3) 4 2 0 0(1) 0 33(4) 4 5 0
15 DF   Mark Little ¤ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
16 MF   Mark Davies ¤ † 0 0 0 0 0(1) 1 0(1) 1 0 0 [nb 1]
16 DF   Christophe Berra 15 0 0 0 0 0 15 0 4 0
17 MF   Matt Jarvis 21(7) 3 1 0 0 0 22(7) 3 0 0
18 FW   Sam Vokes 4(32) 6 2 2 1 0 7(32) 8 0 0
19 FW   Chris Iwelumo 25(6) 14 1(1) 0 1(1) 2 27(8) 16 4 1
20 GK   Matt Murray ¤ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
21 DF   Daniel Jones ¤ 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0
22 DF   Jason Shackell ¤ 3(9) 0 1 0 0 0 4(9) 0 0 0
23 DF   Darren Ward ¤ 0(1) 0 0 0 1 0 1(1) 0 0 0
24 DF   Rob Edwards 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 [nb 2]
24 MF   Carlos Edwards 5(1) 0 0 0 0 0 5(1) 0 0 0
24 MF   Kyel Reid 3(5) 1 1 0 0 0 4(5) 1 0 0
25 MF   Darren Potter ¤ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
26 FW   Stephen Elliott 0 0 0 0 0(1) 0 0(1) 0 0 0 [nb 3]
26 DF   Matt Hill 13 0 1 0 0 0 14 0 2 0
27 DF   Michael Mancienne 8(2) 0 0 0 0 0 8(2) 0 2 0
27 FW   Marlon Harewood 2(3) 0 0 0 0 0 2(3) 0 0 0
28 MF   George Friend 4(2) 0 1 0 0 0 5(2) 0 0 0
29 MF   Stephen Gleeson ¤ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
30 GK   Carl Ikeme 12 0 0 0 1 0 13 0 0 0
31 MF   Mark Salmon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 [nb 4]
31 GK   Graham Stack 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
32 DF   Kevin Foley 45 1 0 0 2 0 47 1 3 0
33 MF   Michael Gray ¤ † 4(4) 1 0 0 2 0 6(4) 1 0 0 [nb 5]
34 MF   Matt Bailey ¤ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
35 MF   Elliott Bennett ¤ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
36 DF   Lee Collins ¤ † 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 [nb 6]
36 MF   Nigel Quashie 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0
37 FW   Liam Hughes ¤ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 [nb 7]
38 MF   Lewis Gobern ¤ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
39 MF   Alex Melbourne 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
40 DF   Peter Williams ¤ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
41 FW   Ashley Hemmings ¤ 0(2) 0 0 0 0 0 0(2) 0 0 0
43 MF   Kyle Bennett 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
44 DF   Danny Batth 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
45 DF   Scott Malone ¤ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
  1. ^ Davies was transferred during the season to Bolton Wanderers.
  2. ^ Edwards was transferred before the season began to Blackpool.
  3. ^ Elliott was transferred during the season to Preston North End.
  4. ^ Salmon was released during the season.
  5. ^ Gray was initially loaned to Sheffield Wednesday, and later transferred there permanently.
  6. ^ Collins was initially loaned to Port Vale, and later transferred there permanently.
  7. ^ Hughes was released during the season.

Awards

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Award Winner[18]
Fans' Player of the Season Kevin Foley
Players' Player of the Season Sylvan Ebanks-Blake
Young Player of the Season Sam Vokes
Academy Player of the Season Scott Malone
Goal of the Season Andy Keogh (vs Derby County, 13 April 2009)

Transfers

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Date Player From Fee
23 May 2008   Sam Vokes Bournemouth £1,200,000[3]
25 June 2008   Richard Stearman Leicester City £1.6 million[1]
27 June 2008   David Jones Derby County £1.2 million[2]
14 July 2008   Chris Iwelumo Charlton Athletic £400,000[4]
1 September 2008   Jason Shackell Norwich City £1 million[10]
1 September 2008   Matt Hill Preston North End Undisclosed[9]
1 September 2008   George Friend Exeter City £350,000[8]
2 February 2009   Christophe Berra   Hearts £2.3 million[13]
Date Player To Fee
June 2008   Gary Breen Released Free[19]
June 2008   Keith Lowe Released Free[19]
June 2008   Sam Morsy Released Free
June 2008   Martin Riley Released Free
12 July 2008   Freddy Eastwood Coventry City £1.2 million[7]
15 July 2008   Charlie Mulgrew   Aberdeen £150,000[20]
26 July 2008   Seyi Olofinjana Stoke City £3 million[5]
4 August 2008   Jay Bothroyd   Cardiff City £350,000[6]
6 August 2008   Rob Edwards Blackpool Undisclosed[21]
1 September 2008   Stephen Elliott Preston North End Undisclosed[22]
January 2009   Liam Hughes Released Free
January 2009   Mark Salmon Released Free
13 January 2009   Dénes Rósa Released Free[23]
16 January 2009   Lee Collins Port Vale Free[24]
26 January 2009   Mark Davies Bolton Wanderers Undisclosed[25]
2 February 2009   Michael Gray Sheffield Wednesday Free[26]

Loans in

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Start date Player From End date
2 October 2008   Carlos Edwards Sunderland 20 November 2008[27]
27 October 2008   Michael Mancienne Chelsea 2 January 2009[28]
27 November 2008   Shane Higgs Cheltenham Town End of season[29]
January 2009   Krisztián Simon   Újpest End of season
15 January 2009   Kyel Reid West Ham United End of season[11]
22 January 2009   Nigel Quashie West Ham United End of season[12]
2 March 2009   Darren Ward Sunderland End of season[30]
23 March 2009   Marlon Harewood Aston Villa End of season[14]
26 March 2009   Graham Stack Plymouth Argyle End of season[31]

Loans out

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Start date Player To End date
23 July 2008   Matt Bailey Burton Albion January 2009[32]
29 July 2008   Elliott Bennett Bury End of season[33]
31 July 2008   Lee Collins Port Vale 15 January 2009[34]
8 August 2008   Stephen Gleeson Stockport County January 2009[35]
22 August 2008   Mark Little Northampton Town 22 October 2008[36]
18 September 2008   Darren Ward Watford 29 November 2008 [37]
3 October 2009   Daniel Jones Oldham Athletic 20 December 2008[38]
7 November 2008   Peter Williams Kettering Town 30 November 2008
12 November 2008   Matt Murray Hereford United 12 December 2008[39]
27 November 2008   Mark Davies Leicester City 24 January 2009[40]
9 January 2009   Michael Gray Sheffield Wednesday 2 February 2009[41]
15 January 2009   Darren Potter Sheffield Wednesday End of season[42]
15 January 2009   Lewis Gobern Colchester United End of season[43]
30 January 2009   Darren Ward Charlton Athletic End of season[44]
2 February 2009   Daniel Jones Oldham Athletic End of season[45]
10 February 2009   Jason Shackell Norwich City End of season[46]
23 February 2009   Ashley Hemmings Cheltenham Town 23 March 2009
25 March 2009   Stephen Gleeson Milton Keynes Dons End of season[47]

Management and coaching staff

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Position Name
Manager Mick McCarthy
Assistant manager Terry Connor
Fitness coach Tony Daley
Goalkeeping coach Pat Mountain
Development Coach, 18–21's Steve Weaver
Academy Manager Kevin Thelwell
Assistant Academy Manager / Under-18's coach John Perkins
Club Doctor Dr Matthew Perry
Head of medical department Steve Kemp
Club Physio Alan Peacham

The season saw a new home and away kit, both manufactured by Le Coq Sportif.[48] The away kit was all black with minor neon green piping.[49] Chaucer Consulting sponsored the club for a fifth and final season.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Stearman swaps Foxes for Wolves". BBC Sport. 25 June 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Wolves complete deal for Jones". BBC Sport. 27 June 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  3. ^ a b "Vokes joins Wolves from Cherries". BBC Sport. 23 May 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  4. ^ a b "Iwelumo completes Wolves switch". BBC Sport. 14 July 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  5. ^ a b "Stoke sign midfielder Olofinjana". BBC Sport. 26 July 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  6. ^ a b "Bothroyd completes Cardiff move". BBC Sport. 4 August 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  7. ^ a b "Eastwood seals switch to Coventry". BBC Sport. 12 July 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  8. ^ a b "Wolves capture Friend from Exeter". BBC Sport. 2 September 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  9. ^ a b "Hill surprised to leave Preston". BBC Sport. 2 September 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  10. ^ a b "Wolves capture defender Shackell". BBC Sport. 1 September 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  11. ^ a b "West Ham's Reid loaned to Wolves". BBC Sport. 15 January 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  12. ^ a b "Quashie makes loan move to Wolves". BBC Sport. 22 January 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  13. ^ a b "Berra completes Wolves transfer". BBC Sport. 2 February 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  14. ^ a b "Harewood signs for Wolves on loan". BBC Sport. 23 March 2009. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  15. ^ "Kightly's season ended by injury". BBC Sport. 1 April 2009. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  16. ^ "Birmingham 2–0 Wolves". BBC Sport. 6 April 2009. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  17. ^ "Relegated Reading start at Forest". BBC Sport. 16 June 2009. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
  18. ^ "Live From The Awards Dinner!". wolves.co.uk. 30 April 2009. Archived from the original on 13 April 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  19. ^ a b "Wolves have end-of-term clear-out". BBC Sport. 9 May 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  20. ^ "Aberdeen take Mulgrew from Wolves". BBC Sport. 15 July 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  21. ^ "Blackpool sign defender Edwards". BBC Sport. 7 August 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  22. ^ "Preston sign Elliott from Wolves". BBC Sport. 1 September 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  23. ^ "Denes Departs". wolves.co.uk. 13 January 2009. Archived from the original on 7 April 2010. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  24. ^ "Collins and Brammer sign for Vale". BBC Sport. 16 January 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  25. ^ "Davies Joins Bolton from Wolves". BBC Sport. 26 January 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  26. ^ "Gray makes permanent Owls switch". BBC Sport. 2 February 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  27. ^ "Wolves complete Edwards loan deal". BBC Sport. 2 October 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  28. ^ "Chelsea loan Mancienne to Wolves". BBC Sport. 27 October 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  29. ^ "Higgs in, Davies out for Wolves". BBC Sport. 28 November 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  30. ^ "Wolves sign keeper Ward on loan". BBC Sport. 2 March 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  31. ^ "Stacky's Back!". wolves.co.uk. 26 March 2009. Archived from the original on 20 April 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  32. ^ "Burton bring in Wolves midfielder". BBC Sport. 23 July 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  33. ^ "Bury keep Bennett for the season". BBC Sport. 18 December 2008. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  34. ^ "Collins makes Valiants loan move". BBC Sport. 31 July 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  35. ^ "Hatters bring in Gleeson on loan". BBC Sport. 8 August 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  36. ^ "Little leaves Wolves for Cobblers". BBC Sport. 22 August 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  37. ^ "Loan pair to extend Watford stay". BBC Sport. 29 October 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  38. ^ "Oldham sign Wolves' Jones on loan". BBC Sport. 3 October 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  39. ^ "Murray heads for Hereford on loan". BBC Sport. 12 November 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  40. ^ "Davies Deadline Day Deal Done". LCFC.co.uk. 27 November 2008. Archived from the original on 2 February 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  41. ^ "Owls sign Gray on short-term loan". BBC Sport. 9 January 2009. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  42. ^ "Owls sign Wolves' Potter on loan". BBC Sport. 15 January 2009. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  43. ^ "Winger Gobern moves to Colchester". BBC Sport. 15 January 2009. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  44. ^ "Charlton capture Kandol and Ward". BBC Sport. 30 January 2009. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  45. ^ "Wolves' Jones returns to Oldham". BBC Sport. 2 February 2009. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  46. ^ "Shackell Returns To Norwich On Loan". wolves.co.uk. 10 February 2009. Archived from the original on 14 March 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  47. ^ "MK Dons snap up Wolves midfielder". BBC Sport. 25 March 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  48. ^ "New home kit unveiled". wolves.co.uk. 2 May 2008. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  49. ^ "Away kit". wolves.co.uk. 24 June 2008. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2010.