Martin Patching: Former Wolves & Watford midfielder dies aged 65
- Published
Martin Patching scored 10 goals in 90 league appearances for Wolves from 1975 to 1979
Former Wolves and Watford midfielder Martin Patching, the father of Luton Town striker Cauley Woodrow, has died at the age of 65.
Patching made 90 league appearances as part of the Wolves side who won the old Second Division and reached an FA Cup semi-final under Sammy Chung in 1978.
He then moved on to Watford in 1979, helping Graham Taylor's Hornets finish runners-up to Liverpool on 1983.
Patching's time at Vicarage Road also included a loan spell at Northampton.
The Rotherham-born former England youth international then finished his career in non-league football.
After retiring as a professional footballer he ran a pub, the Red Lion, in the village of Potten End, Hertfordshire and carried on playing for local side Spinners in the Berkhamsted Sunday League.
His son Cauley has carried on Patching's Hertfordshire links by moving to the area when he joined Luton in 2022.
Patching's former team-mate John Richards, the star of that Wolves side of the 1970s and chairman of the Wolves Former Players' Association, said: "All his former team-mates have good memories of Martin.
"It's a very sad moment for those of us who were at Wolves during the late 70s. He's going to be a massive loss to his family and friends. Sixty-five is no age at all.
"Martin was very young when he broke into the team. He was about 18 when he made his debut for us, but he was a really talented youngster.
"As a person, he was very quiet and very unassuming, but a very nice and polite lad. He worked hard with his training and just got on with it. He wasn't a 'lad about town', he was just a real down-to-earth lad and talented footballer."
Martin Patching's best remembered goal for Watford came against newly crowned league champions Liverpool at Vicarage Road on the last day of the 1982-83 season
Patching had to have lifesaving surgery on a brain tumour in 2006, after collapsing on his way to watch Watford's Championship play-off final win over Leeds United.
He was then diagnosed with a second tumour two years later.
Watford said they were "deeply saddened" to learn of his passing.
"Martin made his Hornets debut in 1979 and went on to play 36 times, scoring against Liverpool in the game that secured a Division One runners-up spot on the final day of the 1982-83 season.
"Our thoughts are with his family and friends."
Another of Patching's former team-mates, Watford legend Luther Blissett, now a club ambassador, said: "It's a sad day for so many of the former players' club as we heard our team-mate, Martin Patching, has passed away."
Our coverage of Wolverhampton Wanderers is bigger and better than ever before - here's everything you need to know to make sure you never miss a moment
