Wolverhampton Wanderers
Old Pictures of Molineux
Molineux, 1869-1925
Wolves originally played at 'Dudley Road' in the Blakenhall area of the city, before moving to Molineux on a permanent basis in 1889, making it the first 'new build' ground in league history. Molineux was already well establish as a sports ground, hosting cycling, bowls and important fixtures for the other football sides in the city. Wolves had first played there in 1885 against Walsall Town.
The lake is roughly where the centre circle would be, whilst the large building in the background was for the South Staffordshire Fine Arts & Industrial Festival taking place
Molineux, 1925-1935
Archibald Leitch arrives at Molineux in 1925 to transform the ground, building the Waterloo Road Stand (1925), North Bank (1930), Molineux St Stand (1932) and South Bank (1935)
Note that building works aren't complete yet. The original North Bank 'Cow Shed' is to the right.
Waterloo Road Stand, 1925
The entrance was based on the Trinity Road Stand Leitch had built at Villa Park two years previously, without the costs that would cripple Aston Villa (or, alas, the Trinity Road's grandeur)
The entrance was based on the Trinity Road Stand Leitch had built at Villa Park two years previously, without the costs that would cripple Aston Villa (or, alas, the Trinity Road's grandeur)
1925. Storm damage
1925. Storm damage
When the Waterloo Road Stand was built, the cover was moved to the open Molineux Street side. It lasted barely a few months before perishing in a storm, leaving spectators once again open to the elements
1931-32, Looking from the South Bank
1935, The South Bank being built
Molineux, 1936-1979
Molineux with Wolverhampton City Centre in foreground, late 1930s/40s
Molineux, Late 1930s/1940s
Inside Molineux, late 1930s/1940s
The Molineux Street Stand, 1949. Winston Churchill speaking
Rear of the Molineux Street Stand, 1949. Policeman moves a hawker on
The Molineux Street Stand and North Bank Corner, 1951
The Waterloo Road Stand, 1951
The Waterloo Road Stand 'crank', 1951
The South Bank 1951
The South Bank 1951
The South Bank 1951
The South Bank 1951
The Molineux Street Stand, 1951
The South Bank, 1950s
10th February 1951, Wolves 2-0 Huddersfield Town
Looking up Molineux Alley
Top of Molineux Alley, the Molineux Hotel to left
Rear of the South Bank
Rear of the South Bank
Rear of the South Bank
The South Bank pre-match
The South Bank and Molineux Street Stand pre-match
The South Bank
The South Bank
Fans in the South Bank/Molineux Street Stand corner
The South Bank and Molineux Street Stand Corner
Corner of the Waterloo Road Stand and South Bank
The South Bank
Fans in the South Bank/Molineux Street Stand corner
The South Bank and Molineux Street Stand Corner
Corner of the Waterloo Road Stand and South Bank
The more familiar ones are erected, 1957
Late 1950's, gates to the ground at the top of Molineux Alley
Late 1950's, gates to the ground at the top of Molineux Alley
December 1967. No play today. Corner of North Bank and Molineux St Stand
Aerial view of Molineux, c. late 1960s
Elevated view of Molineux c. late 1960s
Molineux from St Peters Church Tower early 1970s
Rear of the Molineux Street Stand, 1970s
Molineux Street (left) and North Street (right) 1974
A snowy Waterloo Road enclosure, 1977
North Bank Floodlights, 1978
Rear of the Molineux Street Stand, 1979
Aerial view of Molineux, John Ireland Stand being built, December 1978
John Ireland Stand being built, Molineux St Stand in foreground, December 1978
John Ireland Stand being built, Molineux St Stand in foreground, December 1978
John Ireland Stand being built, 1979
John Ireland Stand being built, 1979
John Ireland Stand being built, 1979
John Ireland Stand being built, 1979
John Ireland Stand being built, 1979
The Molineux Street Stand, 1979
The Molineux Street Stand, 1979
The Molineux Street Stand/South Bank, 1979
The Molineux Street Stand/South Bank, 1979
The North Bank's final days, 1991
The North Bank's final days, 1991
The North Bank's final days, 1991
The North Bank's final days, 1991
The North Bank's final days, 1991
The North Bank's final days, 1991
The North Bank's final days, 1991
The new North Bank arises, 1992 (compare to 'Molineux 1991' shot)
The new North Bank takes shape, 1992
The new North Bank takes shape, 1992
Waterloo Road Stand (left) being demolished 1992
Inside the Waterloo Road Stand, 1992
Waterloo Road Stand demolition continues, 1992
Waterloo Road Stand demolition continues, 1992
Plans for the Ground
1958
(80,000 capacity with 30,000 seats. Plans scrapped.)
(80,000 capacity with 30,000 seats. Plans scrapped.)
1958
(As above, different view)
(As above, different view)
1977 (1)
(Unknown capacity. Set to be built on grounds original footprint, abandoned for larger site below)
(Unknown capacity. Set to be built on grounds original footprint, abandoned for larger site below)
1977 (2)
(50,000 capacity with 20,000 seats. Phase One (John Ireland Stand) completed in 1979. Rest of plans abandoned due to lack of finances)
1979
(Plans for John Ireland Executive Boxes, new Waterloo Road Stand in view opposite)
(Plans for John Ireland Executive Boxes, new Waterloo Road Stand in view opposite)
1988
(Capacity unknown, plans abandoned due to Hayward takeover)
1990
(Capacity 32,000, cost £15m. Plans refined for current ground)
1991-93
(Capacity 28,500 all-seater. Built at cost of circa £13.5m)
1990s
(Plans to fill corners in at South Bank end, circa 3600 increase in capacity)
2010
(Plans to rebuild three sides to achieve 36,000 capacity. Cost at £40m)
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