Blast From The Past

A-K

BENNETT Mike (PNE signed Sept 86 - 86 apps 1 goal) (Wol 6 apps 0 gls)
BERRY George (PNE signed Aug 91 - 4 apps 0 gls) (Wol 124 apps 4 gls)
BIRCH Paul (PNE signed Mar 96 - 11 apps 2 gls) (Wol 142 apps 15 gls)
FORBES Willie (PNE signed Dec 49 - 191 apps 7 gls) (Wol 71 apps 23 gls)
HALLIGAN Billy (PNE signed 1919/20 - 16 apps 2 gls) (Wol 67 apps 34 gls)
HAMPTON John (PNE signed 1930/31 - 37 apps 0 gls) (Wol 49 apps 0 gls)
HAWKINS Graham (PNE signed Jan 68 - 245 apps 3 gls) (Wol 34 apps 0 gls)
HEATHERINGTON Arthur (PNE 1934/35 - 15 apps 3 gls) (Wol 94 apps 24 gls)
KNIGHTON Ken (PNE signed Nov 67 - 62 apps 4 gls) (Wol 16 apps 0 gls)

Player Profile - GRAHAM HAWKINS

Graham Norman Hawkins made almost 450 league appearances for 4 clubs winning two third division championships, managing a second division promotion and being made unemployed by Saddam Hussain.

He was born in Darlaston on 5 March 1946 and joined as an apprentice in 1961 with Wolves before turned pro in 1963. He made his full debut in the 1st Division against West Brom in October 1964. Due to strong competition within the Wolves side, the central defender was never a regular at Molineux and only made 28 plus 6 substitute appearances in 4 seasons.

In January 1968 he transferred to Preston and was seen as a successor to Tony Singleton, who had been centre half for Preston since 1960. He made is debut against QPR in a 2-0 defeat at Loftus Road. Unfortunately he was injured during the game and missed the next 7 league games. He became one of the youngest ever captains for Preston at the age of 22. His 3 league goals all came in the relegation season of 1969/70. His first was a penalty against Sheffield United in a 2-1 home win with further goals against Aston Villa and Millwall. He also scored in the FA Cup against Derby. The following season he played every game as Preston won the Third Division title. After relegation back to the Third Division at the end of 1973/74 and after 241 appearances plus 1 as substitute he was transferred to Blackburn for £18,000.

Hawkins was a major contributor in Gordon Lee's Blackburn side winning the Third Division Championship in 1974/75. He made 109 appearances scoring 4 goals for Rovers.

He transferred to Port Vale in January 1978 where after a spell as player manger he finished his playing career in the 1979/80 season after 62 appearances scoring 3 goals.

After spells at Blackburn as reserve team boss, Stoke and as an assistant manager with Shrewsbury he return to his first club. Allied Properties took over the control of Wolves with Derek Dougan at the helm and replaced Ian Greaves as manager in August 1982.

His first season led to promotion as Manager at Wolves as they finished runners-up to QPR in the Second Division.

Wolves did not start well in the First Division. They were without a win in the first 14 games until winger Danny Crainie's two goals to beat West Brom at the Hawthorns. Only one win in their last 13 games in the 1983/84 season ensured Wolves finished bottom winning only 6 matches and losing 25. Hawkins was sacked in April 1984. His record as manager of Wolves was Played 88 Won 26, drew 27and lost 35 scoring 100 goals.

After a successful coaching spell in Bahrain, Hawkins returned for Blackburn for the third time in March 1990 as chief scout.

An offer from Kuwait tempted him to return to the Middle East and reluctantly quit his Ewood post only to have it taken away when Saddam Hussain invaded Kuwait.