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Book launch set to celebrate Wolves fan's life

John Bray
BBC News, Wolverhampton
BBC Two men in a garden both holding copies of a book called Old Gold and Black BBC
Dave Foster and Lawson Slater have received 300 books ahead of the launch

Wolves fans will gather to the life of a well-known er at the launch of his latest book about the club.

Just days after g off the printing of Old Gold and Black, Steve Plant died at the age of 63.

He was organising the book launch and football memorabilia exhibition, including hundreds of match-worn shirts, in Wolverhampton on Sunday 13 October.

Tributes have been paid from across the world and now his family and close friends are ensuring the sold-out event, which will raise money for Birmingham Children's Hospital, still goes ahead.

Wolves fans paid tribute to Steve Plant in the 63rd minute of the game against Liverpool at Molineux

His wife Andrea said: “It has been devastating for the family, I have lost my husband and best friend.

"This has hit us hard and the realisation that Steve’s ing has come just before the Old Gold and Black shirt exhibition and book launch, we had to make a decision whether to carry on with the event.

"After speaking to family, I decided that we should carry on and make the event a tribute to his life.

“We quickly formed a committee of family and close friends and pressed ahead with making it something to Steve by.”

Ed Bagnall Two men, one bald, one with long curly hair and holding a copy of a book about football shirts Ed Bagnall
On X, musician and Wolves vice president Robert Plant wrote: "Sad news to learn of the sudden ing of Steve Plant. His enormous contribution to our club and its profile past and present will live long in our minds. My condolences to Steve’s family and all those close to him."

This will be the fourth book penned by Mr Plant, from Stourbridge, and his fundraising efforts have so far raised more than £250,000.

"I just had to get involved. I can't let him down because he would always have your back," said friend Dave Foster.

The pair sat together at Molineux for many seasons and Mr Foster said the ovation for his friend at the recent Liverpool game was both "horrible and amazing".

"It just spread around the ground, it was very emotional and when the South Bank sang 'The Wanderers will never die', it was just incredible."

He added: "I have had phone calls and messages from across the world. I have never met these people, but they just wanted to say sorry."

Ed Bagnall A collection of old gold and black Wolves football shirts in a museum and a collection of match footballs above on shelvesEd Bagnall
Steve Plant built a collection of Wolves memorabilia at his home. He started the collection to lift the spirits of his father after he became seriously ill
Ed Bagnall Two men sat in the dugout at a football stadium with a copy of a book about football shirtsEd Bagnall
The museum at his home includes a special section dedicated to the exploits of Wolves' record goalscorer, and club vice president, Steve Bull
Ed Bagnall Two men in the reception of Wolves football club. Both wearing coats. One has a copy of a book about football shirtsEd Bagnall
The very first matchworn shirt purchased by Steve Plant was of George Elokobi, from the Mick McCarthy era, and the pair became good friends
ers at the Old Gold and Black book launch will see more than 200 match-worn Wolves shirts from Steve Plant's extensive collection
Ed Bagnall One man in a blue polo shirt, one man in a red football shirt holding a sporting trophy with six football shirts hanging in the backgroundEd Bagnall
Steve Plant presented a player of the year award to Wolves' Portuguese midfield legend Joao Mountinho

Friend Lawson Slater, who is helping to organise the event, said he still did not think he had processed the fact Mr Plant was no longer here.

"We have got to make sure this exhibition is exactly what he wanted and I know the book is what he wanted because I was with him when he was on the phone and he approved the final version."

Pages from a football shirt book called Old Gold and Black. Four pages are shown with 14 shirts from different eras and accompanying text.
His latest book includes a foreword from former captain Ruben Neves, the Portugual international who now plays in Saudi Arabia
Three hardback books on a table about Wolves football club and its history.
Old Gold and Black is the fourth Wolves-related book penned by Steve Plant, who started collecting Wolves shirts in 2009
Ed Bagnall A man in a blue suit on a stage holding a trophy next to a man at a lecturn who made the presentation. The man's name Steve Plant is on the screen behind himEd Bagnall
Steve Plant won Wolves’ Rachael Heyhoe Flint award for services to the community in 2018. He is survived by wife Andrea and daughters Leah, Abbie, Lauren, Talisa and brother Si

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