Wath Wanderers - the first ever football academy?

[brookchris]

Mark Crook - Wolves (1929-1935) started what is believed to be the first football academy - Wath Wanderers - a South Yorkshire based nursery team feeding Wolves (even though it's over 90 miles away!).
Mark Crook recommended over 80 players that played in the football league, including Ron Flowers, Roy Swinbourne, Alan Sunderland, Steve Daley & Bob Hatton.
Wath Wanderers was active for over 30 years up until 1969/70 season.
A blue plaque is planned for Spring 2025 with a not-for-profit book on the back of it - more detail at tinyurl.com/crookwwfc

 

[BillyDee]

Yeah, I think I read about this somewhere recently...

 

[Kenny]

Bit spammy chap.

I have deleted your other identical posts and will leave this one unless you turn into a big parking bot.

 

[leedswolf]

Mark Crook - Wolves (1929-1935) started what is believed to be the first football academy - Wath Wanderers - a South Yorkshire based nursery team feeding Wolves (even though it's over 90 miles away!).
Mark Crook recommended over 80 players that played in the football league, including Ron Flowers, Roy Swinbourne, Alan Sunderland, Steve Daley & Bob Hatton.
Wath Wanderers was active for over 30 years up until 1969/70 season.
A blue plaque is planned for Spring 2025 with a not-for-profit book on the back of it - more detail at tinyurl.com/crookwwfc

You've missed (probably) the best player to come to Wolves from Wath, that is Peter Knowles (his brother Cyril was also a product of the 'academy').

 

[brookchris]

Yeah - the Knowles' brothers are on the list of 80 players at tinyurl.com/crookwwfc
Apologies for not including them - I had to choose a handful.