Book launch set to celebrate Wolves fan's life

Dave Foster and Lawson Slater have received 300 books ahead of the launch

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

Just days after signing 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.

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 passing 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 remember Steve by.”

On X, musician and Wolves vice president Robert Plant wrote: "Sad news to learn of the sudden passing 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."

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

The museum at his home includes a special section dedicated to the exploits of Wolves' record goalscorer, and club vice president, Steve Bull

The very first matchworn shirt purchased by Steve Plant was of George Elokobi, from the Mick McCarthy era, and the pair became good friends

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."

His latest book includes a foreword from former captain Ruben Neves, the Portugual international who now plays in Saudi Arabia

Old Gold and Black is the fourth Wolves-related book penned by Steve Plant, who started collecting Wolves shirts in 2009

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