WOLVES-STATS.CO.UK
Q&A with: Steve Froggatt
Steve Froggatt joined Wolves in 1994 from local rivals Aston Villa. He spent four seasons at Molineux before he moved across the Midlands to Coventry City.
Steve started his career at Aston Villa as a trainee before gaining a professional contract. He made his first team debut in 1991 and went on to make 35 league appearances. In 1994, he made the switch to Molineux in a £1m transfer deal that saw him reunited with Graham Taylor and in the process dropped down to the second tier of English football. On two occasions in 1995 and 1997, he missed out on a return to the top flight as Wolves lost in the playoffs, although on the first occasion, he had missed the entire second half of the season following a serious injury sustained at Reading in December 1994. The tackle causing the damage came from Scott Taylor, who ironically went on to enjoy a spell at Molineux around the turn of the decade. In 1998, with his contract due to expire and him becoming eligible for a free transfer under the Bosman Ruling, Steve signed a new one year contract at Molineux. This enabled the club to recive a fee for the player when he was sold Coventry City for £1.9m; this was Wolves highest received transfer fee at the time, only eclipsed when Robbie Keane made the same move a year later for £6m. During his time at Wolves, Steve played 122 games and scored 9 goals. He played primarily on the left side of midfield, though did also spend spells at left back and left wing back, his turn of pace and crossing ability being key to the team at that time. He started the 1998/99 season in sparkling form as Wolves made their best start to a season for almost half a century, but his departure, in the main due to financial pressures at the club, was arguably central to the eventual decline in performance and the departure of manager Mark McGhee in November 1998.
He made his Coventry debut against Aston Villa and went on to become a regular in the City team. His form at Coventry City earned him a call up to the England squad. He was an unused sub against Scotland in a European Championship Qualifier Play Off game at Hampden Park and also made the squad for the second game against Scotland, and a friendly international against Argentina.
Whilst at Coventry, Steve picked up a serious injury after being on the end of a shocking challenge by Nicky Summerbee. After a long battle to get back fit, he had to concede defeat and hung his boots up in 2001.
Steve has since worked extensively in the local media and remains close to the club where he spent over four years of his career.
Steve was kind enough to grant Wolves-Stats an interview, answering questions posted on www.wolvesforum.co.uk and put to him by Richard Harries
So here is what Steve had to say...........
Steve started his career at Aston Villa as a trainee before gaining a professional contract. He made his first team debut in 1991 and went on to make 35 league appearances. In 1994, he made the switch to Molineux in a £1m transfer deal that saw him reunited with Graham Taylor and in the process dropped down to the second tier of English football. On two occasions in 1995 and 1997, he missed out on a return to the top flight as Wolves lost in the playoffs, although on the first occasion, he had missed the entire second half of the season following a serious injury sustained at Reading in December 1994. The tackle causing the damage came from Scott Taylor, who ironically went on to enjoy a spell at Molineux around the turn of the decade. In 1998, with his contract due to expire and him becoming eligible for a free transfer under the Bosman Ruling, Steve signed a new one year contract at Molineux. This enabled the club to recive a fee for the player when he was sold Coventry City for £1.9m; this was Wolves highest received transfer fee at the time, only eclipsed when Robbie Keane made the same move a year later for £6m. During his time at Wolves, Steve played 122 games and scored 9 goals. He played primarily on the left side of midfield, though did also spend spells at left back and left wing back, his turn of pace and crossing ability being key to the team at that time. He started the 1998/99 season in sparkling form as Wolves made their best start to a season for almost half a century, but his departure, in the main due to financial pressures at the club, was arguably central to the eventual decline in performance and the departure of manager Mark McGhee in November 1998.
He made his Coventry debut against Aston Villa and went on to become a regular in the City team. His form at Coventry City earned him a call up to the England squad. He was an unused sub against Scotland in a European Championship Qualifier Play Off game at Hampden Park and also made the squad for the second game against Scotland, and a friendly international against Argentina.
Whilst at Coventry, Steve picked up a serious injury after being on the end of a shocking challenge by Nicky Summerbee. After a long battle to get back fit, he had to concede defeat and hung his boots up in 2001.
Steve has since worked extensively in the local media and remains close to the club where he spent over four years of his career.
Steve was kind enough to grant Wolves-Stats an interview, answering questions posted on www.wolvesforum.co.uk and put to him by Richard Harries
So here is what Steve had to say...........
First up, thanks for taking the time to grant Wolves-Stats this interview, when you joined Wolves you dropped down a division to do so. What made you make this move?
I had a great time at Villa - I'd been there since I was twelve - and we had a really successful time; Premier League runners up, and beating United in the League Cup. But after being there for so long I felt I needed a move to reignite my career. I had an awful lot of respect for Graham Taylor after my time with him at Villa, and Tony Daley - one of my best mates and a former room-mate - had just joined. It was a massive club that was going places; similar to what Man City are doing now; I never viewed it as a step down. I had some Premier League interest, but Wolves was a great opportunity.
What impressed you about the club when you joined?
The manager, the players (Thomas, Daley, Bully, Don Goodman etc), the fan base, and a great history that we wanted to try and emulate.
You were at Wolves during the times of mass cash injection, a lot of Wolves fans look back at this "era" with a memory of players going through the motions and earning huge amounts. Would you say this was the case with some players or was it a case of the fans demanding too much?
A mixture of both, in truth. I never got any stick, but sometimes when other individuals do...fans don't realise that it can effect everybody. I'll say about Wolves fans; when they're good, they're amongst the best - but the reverse is also true.
It all started off well at Wolves for you, didn't it?
When I joined, we had some great players; and we started off tremendously. We were steam rollering the division, and were about 9 points clear at one point. And then the injuries started. Me, Daley, de Wolf, Thomas - some big players with long term injuries. To this day I think if Sir Jack had have backed Taylor in the winter and allowed him to spend a couple of quid to see us over the line...but he didn't, we fell away, and ended up losing in the play offs to Bolton.
In that game John McGinlay punched Ned (David Kelly) and got away with it, before going on to score the winner...
When things like that happen, it's as if the Gods are against you! Though if Graham had been given a bit more money to help with the injuries, it would have been different.
Sir Jack's investment did seem a bit 'all or nothing', at times.
It did. Taylor was backed in the summer, but we had a small squad and couldn't cope with the injuries. Mark McGhee was given money, Colin Lee didn't have a penny, and then Dave Jones was given a blank cheque book.
What was the highlight of your Wolves career?
The semi final against Arsenal was a great achievement. They had some wonderful players, and to only lose one-nil was a credit to the team.
What did you think about the line up to that game?
Dropping Keano for Claridge, you mean! I can understand why; Steve was an experienced player, who'd played in big games. I don't think playing Robbie would have made a difference; I think Arsenal had another gear.
What was Robbie like to play with?
I loved playing with Robbie. Such an intelligent footballer. You could tell from his debut he was going to be a massive player. I just knew where he'd be; almost telepathic. And we played together at Coventry before he was sold for the thick end of £14m. I was amazed when Wolves sold Robbie when they did. I understand Sir Jack wanted to balance the books, but if they'd have kept me, and built the team around Robbie, it could have been special. You could go up, and build a Premier League team around Robbie, and Dean Richards. But it was as if Sir Jack had thrown the towel in, and a talented squad was dismantled.
What about your move to Coventry? You could have moved on a Bosman, instead of signing an extention allowing us to get a fee.
I'm a big believer in loyalty. I had a great time at Wolves, and whilst I could have made more money by leaving, I wanted to do the right thing. I could have gone to Boro - and earned £250k a year more - but chose Coventry as I liked Strachan as a manager, and it meant not uprooting my family.
Your whole career was spent in the Midlands.
Yeah, more by luck than by design though. I'm from Lincoln, but had been at Villa for a long time, and Wolves was a great opportunity. Coventry was another great period for me, some lovely football.
Any regrets about your moves? Fair to say that moving to Wolves harmed your international chances?
No regrets at all. I played for three great clubs, and whilst I could have stayed in the Premier League after Villa, Wolves was a great opportunity for the long term; it just didn't work out in terms of promotion.
And onto the way your career ended, with some horrible challenges by Taylor and Summerbee.
As a winger you expect to get kicked. My biggest fault was that I never learned how to jump a tackle. I'd go steaming in at 100 miles per hour, and come out with an injury!
Who was the best manager you've worked under?
Tough question. Atkinson, Taylor, Strachan, McGhee...If I had to pick one, I'd say Taylor for his man management skills.
Wolves fans will be surprised to see McGhee mentioned in such illustrious company!
My last few months under McGhee was probably the best I've ever played! Going from a wingback to the left of a midfield 3 brought the best out in me, I think.
Since you've stopped playing, you've chosen the punditry route, rather than coaching.
When I look at some of the lads I played with and have gone into management, andhow grey some of them are, I'm glad! After I'd stopped playing, I stayed with Coventry for a while on the press side of things which taught me a lot for the future. I think you either want to manage, or you don't. I love the punditry, it's like a great part-time job
So other than punditry, what do you do with yourself?
Me and David Kelly have worked together of about 12 years in property, I'm just about to launch a fitness education business with Paul Devlin (Former Blues striker), and also have a personal training business - www.stevefroggatt.com
I see a lot of the old Wolves lads, too - Bully, Goodman, Ned; lots of golf!
I see a lot of the old Wolves lads, too - Bully, Goodman, Ned; lots of golf!
And finally, how do you rate this current Wolves side?
I love the way Mick's teams play. Full of effort, passion, and they try to win. I think if they keep doing that, they'll stay up. Then come next year they can start to get some better players in and push on. Wolves can be a great club.
Wolves-Stats would like thank Steve Froggatt for taking the time to answer the questions put to him by the fans
The questions were set by the users of www.wolvesforum.co.uk and put to Steve by Richard Harries, click on the image below and become a member, giving you the chance to ask questions to current and ex players and be part of new online Wolves community. You can also find out more about Steve's fitness business by visiting his official website. Steve also has a Twitter page, click on the Twitter logo to join and to keep up with him.
The questions were set by the users of www.wolvesforum.co.uk and put to Steve by Richard Harries, click on the image below and become a member, giving you the chance to ask questions to current and ex players and be part of new online Wolves community. You can also find out more about Steve's fitness business by visiting his official website. Steve also has a Twitter page, click on the Twitter logo to join and to keep up with him.
