Steve Bull MBE

Steve made his Wolves debut just two days later in a 3-0 loss to Wrexham, during a tough period for the club languishing in mid-table in Division Four. Shortly after, Wolves faced a historic low, crashing out of the FA Cup to non-league Chorley, with Steve watching from the stands due to being cup-tied. Despite this, Steve quickly became a key player, scoring his first Wolves goal in a Freight Rover Trophy match against Cardiff in December 1986, followed by his first league goal 11 days later in a 1-0 victory over Hartlepool.

By February 1987, Steve had netted five league goals in 11 matches. A pivotal moment came in a match against Stockport at Molineux, where Wolves overturned a deficit to win 3-1, sparking a run of just three losses in the final 22 games of the season. Although Wolves narrowly missed promotion and lost the play-off final to Aldershot, Steve’s 19 goals in his first season cemented his status as a fan favourite.

The 1987/88 season saw Steve Bull become a Wolverhampton icon. Wolves claimed the Fourth Division title and lifted the Sherpa Van Trophy at Wembley, defeating Burnley. Steve was unstoppable, scoring 34 league goals and an incredible total of 52 across all competitions, making him the first player in nearly 30 years to score 50 goals in an English season.

The following season, Wolves secured the Third Division Championship, with Steve again topping the charts with 50 goals. His breathtaking form earned him international recognition. In May 1989, Steve made his England debut at Hampden Park, silencing critics with a goal against Scotland. Over his international career, he earned 13 caps, scoring four goals, and represented the England B team multiple times.

Steve’s loyalty to Wolves was unwavering, despite interest from Premier League clubs. In 1992, he broke the club’s all-time goal-scoring record, surpassing John Richards with his 195th goal. By February 1998, he had scored 300 goals for the club, and in the same year, he notched his 18th hat-trick in a match against Barnet.

Unfortunately, a persistent knee injury led to his retirement in 1999 at the age of 35. Although he briefly returned to play for Hereford United, he ultimately focused on his PR role at Wolves, continuing to serve the club he loved.

Steve Bull’s extraordinary contributions to football and his charity work earned him an MBE in the Millennium New Year’s Honours. In 2003, Wolves renamed the John Ireland Stand as the Steve Bull Stand in his honour. Three years later, he was appointed honorary Vice-President of the club, and his 20th anniversary at Wolves was celebrated with a testimonial match against Aston Villa, where he made a final appearance in the famous gold and black.

To this day, Steve Bull, affectionately known as “Bully,” remains one of Wolverhampton Wanderers’ most cherished figures, embodying loyalty, passion, and an unrelenting eye for goal.