Wolves fan takes on stadium abseil in dad's memory

Wendy Cullis will abseil down a stand at Molineux

A Wolverhampton Wanderers fan is set to abseil down a stand at the club's stadium in memory of her late father.

Wendy Cullis's dad Barry, who was known by everyone as Stan, died in December 2023, seven years after being diagnosed with cancer.

Ms Cullis said she wanted to do the Molineux Abseil, which involves descending 25m (82ft) down the Billy Wright Stand, to pay tribute to him and her sister Lorna, who also died from cancer.

"As a family, I thought it would be a good way to pay tribute and help us move forward, while also raising money for Wolves Foundation," she said.

The family happen to share their surname with the team's former manager Stan Cullis, a name which was "synonymous with the club's illustrious history", a Wolves spokesperson said.

Ms Cullis said she thought her father was actually a "distant relative of the man himself" and may have been a second cousin.

"I don't think the name ever leaves us," she explained.

"Every person we meet in Wolverhampton asks us if we knew Stan, and it's something to treasure really."

In his final weeks in hospital, Barry was also sent some gifts from the club and was set to receive a call from a former player, but died before it could be arranged.

Ms Cullis said she wanted to "repay the favour and that compassion", with money raised from the abseil on 6 September going to the club's official charity.

"I am definitely looking forward to the challenge, it's a really nice thing to do and I am sure I'll have plenty of support," she said.