Fergie based his team around Paul Scholes and Wilson named his dog after him
Les Wilson Part 5: Acclaiming excellence
by Charlie Bamforth
In thirty years of writing about soccer and interviewing a huge number of football people I have certainly come to accept the truth of the statement that people speak as they find. For instance, the managers of Wolverhampton Wanderers who were at the helm during Les Wilson’s career with the club – Stan Cullis, Andy Beattie, Ronnie Allen and Bill McGarry – were not universally admired by all of the players that were in their employ. The same can be said for opinions on players.
There are a very few soccer people, however, for whom nobody will have a bad word. Les Wilson is in that category, as I confirmed when chatting to several of his former colleagues.
Colleagues, for instance, like chirpy Londoner Ray Aggio, who did not make the first team at Wolves but who had an excellent goal scoring career in non-league football with the likes of Worcester City and Barnet.
“It was 1964 when that lovely man turned up at Molineux. Straightaway it was obvious that he was a tremendous athlete. The fittest blokes in the club were Bobby Thomson, Freddie Goodwin and Duggie Woodfield, with Peter Knowles close behind, but Les was beating them at (training grounds) Brocton and Cannock.
“And, what progress he made: he started in the fourth team and within 16 or 17 months had made his first team debut. He mostly was at wing half in our youth side– I think his first game in the Youth Cup was against Chelsea, in place of Terry Thompson at left half with me at right half. Chelsea had Peter Osgood and Jimmy McCalliog in their team and they beat us 3-0. But we had quite a team ourselves – and several had great careers in the League. As well as Les there was Phil Parkes, Gerry Taylor, John Farrington, Bob Hatton and Fred Kemp.”
David Cooke was a young blond-haired left back who played alongside Les in many junior and reserve games for the Molineux club, before heading into a coaching and scouting career.
“Les was an excellent player who was really good to play alongside. His strengths were that he had good skills, quickness of thought, spotting opportunities and danger early. He was a good athlete who was really determined with a great will to win.
“He adapted quickly to situations and therefore was very useful in that he could play in many different positions. He was someone you wanted on your side both in full games and also training sessions. Les settled in quickly when he signed and brought something different to the dressing room with his enthusiasm and attitude to life and also to the game he loved. He was a very popular player at Molineux.
“Les is a great guy. He was always willing to help and give solid advice when needed. I remember when John Farrington was selected to make his first team debut and I was sitting down beforehand with Les and John, having a coffee. Les was giving him much encouragement and advice to help him do well. “
Phil Parkes, the keeper who played with such distinction for both Wolves and Vancouver Whitecaps, has special cause to recall Les.
“Les and I were the first two players to sign pro for the Wolves after Stan Cullis was fired. I got on well with him. He was a super fit lad – I am sure he used to go for a run in a morning before he even came in for training! Could play anywhere – but fullback was his best position.”
I asked Phil whether he remembered the day that Les ‘lost it’ with Bill McGarry.
“No I don’t remember him flashing his fingers at McGarry – it would have been totally out of character. Les got on with everybody, one of the best guys in the club.”
When Les was giving John Farrington (who would play a number of first team games on the right wing for Wolves and rather more for Leicester City) words of encouragement on his debut he himself was a very young chap. Farrington’s debut came on the first day of the 1966-1967 season, at which time Les’ first team involvement had been limited to a solitary first team start and some bench warming. It wasn’t long though before Les was an integral part of a very competitive first team squad.
At the heart of the defense was a tall Londoner, John Holsgrove, known as ‘Hank’ on account of playing the guitar, the instrument played by his idol Hank Marvin of The Shadows. Just like ‘Lofty’ Parkes, John has no recollection of the McGarry incident.
“In modern terminology Les was the ‘go-to’ player in the Wolves team of the sixties. He could play in any position except goalkeeper – although I am sure, knowing him as I do, he could do that too. As a team mate he was supportive, always positive and ready to help whatever the circumstances on or off the pitch.
“The ‘Tea Set’ came about at Molineux quite by chance. Les, Bobby Thomson, Derek Dougan, Dave Burnside and myself enjoyed a cuppa and we often got together after training at the ground, having started this habit on our first tour to the USA in 1967.
“His nickname Reverend came about in Los Angeles that summer. Unfortunately there is no plaque to commemorate this! Les was always well read in comparison to the rest of us in the Tea Set and often ‘preached’ (nothing to do with religion) to us on that eight week tour. One night we were all out, Les went on and on about different things, and Dave Burnside came up with calling him ‘the Rev.’ It has stayed with him ever since!
“In 1969 Les and I shared a room on our second USA tour, this time in Kansas City. I always remember that if the next door room or above were noisy at bed time, he stuck his head under the pillow to get to sleep, often sleeping around the clock. I have used this ploy ever since.”
Les Wilson might well have left Wolves before even getting his nickname.
One of the senior pros at Wolves when Les signed as a youngster was mightily impressed with him. This was Liverpool and England legend Jimmy Melia, who had less than a year at Molineux before heading to Southampton but it was long enough for him to be taken with the young Canadian.
“I recommended Les to Ted Bates at Southampton. Les had a great attitude, he was passionate about the game, very knowledgeable, very versatile and so fit.”
But Les loved it at Molineux and all of us on the terraces or in the stands could see that very clearly.
Fred Davies, who was Malcolm Finlayson’s replacement as first team keeper at Molineux, was on the sidelines on a day that he particularly recalls as a great example of Les’ dedication and determination to fulfil his brief.
“Les could run and run and run some more. On this day in December 1967 (just before Fred departed for Cardiff City) we were playing Manchester United. The manager Ronnie Allen told Les told to mark George Best, to stay with him, to just get the ball and give it to someone else. He was doing this superbly. Then there was a long break in play and the trainer (‘physio’ in modern parlance) came on. Bestie drifted off to the halfway line while we were all waiting and I swear Les went and stood with him!”
The tributes go on. Take Alan Hinton, the legendary Wolves, Forest and Derby winger who has been such a huge hit in North America for many years.
“What a pleasure to chat about Les Wilson, a great man and a true friend. I had left Molineux before Les joined but I played against Wolves and Les. I think he won the battle with his swift tackling, his energy and his will to win. I cannot remember anything good I achieved playing against Les. He was quick, focused and wanted to win.
“Les still keeps in touch with Wolves and always lets me know the inside scoop from behind the scenes. His favorites clearly were David Burnside, John Holsgrove, ‘Lofty Parkes’, Derek Dougan, Waggy, John Richards amongst many others. He loved the Wolves coaches during his time at Wolves. He also loved the Wolves fans and naturally the fans adored Les.”
Les actually has two cars parked in his garage with plates and color schemes, one that is a tribute to Wolves but the other recognizes Manchester United, the club that he has long been a big fan of, reflecting his Mancunian birthplace. Les and Lois Wilson’s beautiful golden doodle is named Scholesy, after a favorite United player whose style was clearly reminiscent of Les Wilson at his prime in Wolverhampton.
Even before he had reached his highest spot at Wolves, which arguably was 1968-1969, Les was looking into becoming the complete article by pursuing his coaching qualifications. David Cooke again:
“We talked a lot about taking the coaching badges and we both agreed it would give us a different outlook on our attitude to the game and it would also be well worthwhile when our playing days were over, as proved the case for both of us. His coaching was very good as he had excellent communication skills, getting points across clearly and concisely, never over complicating issues. He also had the ability to think outside the box and come up with innovative ideas. Les was a good communicator who made players feel at ease.
“It was obvious that Les would go on to other successes in football as he had the determination, intellect and communication skills to do well – as he proved. It must have been a great experience for players to work with Les and for him to pass on his knowledge. I always felt he would be successful in life no matter which career path he undertook.”
The path of course brought Les Wilson back to Canada and a coaching and managerial career that playing colleagues at Wolverhampton such as David Cooke clearly predicted would be successful; a career that took Les to Canadian Soccer’s Hall of Fame.
At Vancouver Les worked alongside a number of notable fellow coaches, men like Richard Dinnis, himself manager of Newcastle United and coach of Blackburn Rovers in the day.
“No matter which profession Les might have chosen, he would still be exactly what he is: a most generous, honorable and wonderful human being, with the utmost integrity and honesty, and a most loyal and trusted friend.
“I was fully aware of Les when I was coaching in England, and he was regarded as something unique: Canada was where the Mounted Police came from and they played Ice Hockey! The idea of a footballer seemed far-fetched, but he proved that he had the talent and desire to play in England at the highest level.
Wilson (2nd left) and Cooke (r) in their younger days
“I first met Les when I was appointed Reserve/Youth Coach to Vancouver Whitecaps in 1978. Les recruited the young players, all from British Columbia. He managed the team and I coached them on a daily basis. Les also coached and trained the players and was probably the fittest person in the club!
“The players were a delight to work with and coaching in the Empire Stadium with its wonderful backdrop was truly memorable. Our reserve team was usually filled with these young players, but we also had the likes of Bruce Grobbelaar, Trevor Whymark and Kevin Hector regaining fitness for the first team.”
As Alan Hinton stresses:
“Les could run all day and seeing him go lap after lap around Empire Stadium so easily was hard for me to comprehend as I hated running any further than 100 yards!”
Testimony to the Wilson dedication to fitness came from another colleague at the Whitecaps. And if anyone knew about fitness it was Bob McNab, England fullback and a part of the legendary Arsenal double team of 1970/71.
“Watching him in training as a colleague at the Whitecaps, I soon realized that he was my kind of player. Had he still been playing he would have been one of the first on the team sheet. Les had the tools: roll up the sleeves and give it everything. He was a good tackler, a ball winner – and fairly at that, without kicking people.
“In his day Les had been a ‘meat and potatoes’ player, nothing fancy. Every team needs such players. Looking at Les’ tools then, yes, full back would be his best position but I could see him as that ball winner in midfield. To me he was a Nobby Stiles or a Peter Storey (and remember that I played a lot of games with Peter at Arsenal). Win that ball and give it and once the ball is back in your team’s possession have the intelligence to know how to move forward.
“Look at clubs in the Premiership today and they are crying out for a player like Les was. If only when he played in England Les had had a Don Howe as his coach. Don was fantastic and he would have been great for Les. Bill McGarry had no idea defensively.
“Les always supported me when I went to coach at Vancouver. He was a great example to everyone. He’d be up at the front of the pack with me on runs. I kept out of the political side – but those were difficult times at the Whitecaps.”
Bob McNab was alluding to player unrest and clashes of personalities behind the scenes. One player admitted to me that he wished he had not left the club.
“It’s thanks to Les that I went to Vancouver” says Phil Parkes. “I went on loan at first and enjoyed it so much that I went back permanently.”
Alas it wasn’t permanent and Lofty’s agent had him moving elsewhere for bigger sums.
“I should never have left. Still…..”
And the big man sighs.
Alan Hinton again:
“I worked with Les at Whitecaps in a record breaking 1978. We won the NASL West easily and Les was so positive with me and the players and was so passionate when he spoke at team meetings about the impact on the fans if we gave 100% playing attractive and entertaining winning soccer. We did and ended the season selling out Empire Stadium with its 33,000 capacity.
“Les was one of the leaders in creating the Cascadia League, a good competition for reserve teams in Portland, Seattle and Vancouver which was way ahead of its time.
“Les and Tony Waiters worked well together to give the Canada national team its greatest ever World Cup performance in its long history. Canadian soccer teams have failed to achieve such success since. It is amazing to me that Les Wilson and Tony Waiters seem to have been ignored by the Canadian Soccer Association since.
Some great Canadians among the World Soccer Hall of Fame Inductees
“Les, Tony and Dave Fryatt contributed their 1986 World Cup bonuses to form the Vancouver 86ers in a League that set the eventual move into the MLS which is doing well today.
“Les was always a forward thinker and always putting team before self. He should be very proud of his longtime contribution to soccer in England and in North America and, as all who know Les appreciate, the game and the many people he has touched along his journey are all the better for being fortunate to call him a special friend.”
Tony Waiters, himself a fine player who kept goal for England, had an especially close working relationship with Les Wilson.
“Les and I had a great commitment to the game and while I prided myself on my attention to detail, Les was much better and always saw the job through. When you are travelling on-the-road, a myriad of details need to be looked after – flights, ground transportation, hotels, meals, training fields and so on. Getting these things right – or wrong – makes the difference. Les got them right.
“Obviously, the 1979 Soccer Bowl win was a high spot, but the week before the final was not. The players wanted their (meagre) winning bonus doubled. I recommended to the board that they should. They didn’t! We had a very unhappy group before the game. In the locker room before the game Alan Ball broke the ice. He said, ‘Boys! You will remember this game for the rest of your lives. Let’s make it a good one!’ And that did it.”
Bob McNab also recalls the turmoil at the time and giving the players a piece of his unadorned Yorkshire honesty. ‘Nabbers’ also laughs at the memory that the hotel had not expected the Whitecaps to be victorious and when they got back to the hotel it was to find their rooms cleared and suitcases ready for their departure!
I asked Tony Waiters if there were other amusing occurrences from their time together.
“There were many, most of which cannot be repeated! In 1982 (the year of the Falklands War), Les mischievously sent what looked like an official letter to all of the British players we had in the squad – and there were quite a few of them – saying they had been called up for military service and they would be receiving further instructions. Les did not persist for too long as it would have been a bit too much!”
I mentioned to Tony Waiters that it appeared that Les was let go from the Whitecaps in a very unfortunate way.
“I was at the club at the time, but had given notice that I was quitting as the President/GM. Les got caught in a power struggle. I advised him to take certain action and, on reflection, the advice was not very good.”
Notwithstanding – and as we have seen – the Waiters-Wilson partnership went on to huge success with Canada. None of that came as any surprise to the men that I contacted. And everyone speaks with gratitude that they still know him as a great friend.
Even to this day, full back Les Wilson finds a right winger (Canadian PM Stephen Harper) to mark!
John Holsgrove:
“Les has been a dear friend for many years. I have been greatly impressed with how he has been so successful as a footballer and, even more so, when he gave up playing to move successfully to management and coaching in the game. So many footballers find it hard to find success and happiness after finishing their playing careers. At age 31-34 your career as a player is over and suddenly you realize that there are more working years ahead for you than the 15 or so years you have just completed as a player. I faced this problem by completely leaving football behind, but Les stayed on in the game and didn’t the ‘Rev’ do well!”
David Cooke:
“A great guy who I feel honored to have played with and become a friend of; it has been tremendous to be able to keep our memories alive.”
Alan Hinton:
“A pleasure to chat about Les Wilson: a great man and a true friend. His three soccer loves have been Wolves, Whitecaps and Canadian National Team. He excelled and made a huge difference at all three.”.
And let Ray Aggio, with whom we started this tribute, have the last word:
“A couple of years ago my partner Mary and I were the guests of Les and Lois. They treated us like royalty, took us everywhere and refused any offer I made to pay for anything. I insisted on buying dinner on the last day – but what wonderful people. Do you know what? Les has not changed a bit from the day I first met him over 50 years ago. It was if we had never been apart.”
Also in this series:
Les Wilson Part Four: Canada in the World Cup
Les Wilson Part 3 – a Cascadian comes home
Les Wilson Part 2 – Cascadian Soccer Pioneer – Meeting legends at Wolves
Les Wilson Part 1 – The Cascadian who played in the EPL
