We did the research for Football’s Black Pioneers over the four year period that led up to publication in October 2020; some stories were easier to write than others. Where possible we tried to contact players and do a sort of ‘where are they now?’ conclusion to what we had written. Don Gardner was one player we were keen to speak to but he proved elusive.
We recently stumbled across the attached article, written in 2021, it’s one we would have loved to have seen earlier, indeed we would have loved to write it!
Don made his debut on 31st March 1975 – fifty years ago – so this is a particularly appropriate time to share the article with you:
https://www.wolvesheroes.com/don-gardner-his-place-in-history/
It’s an excellent read and updates Don’s story.
We do have one small query concerning the photo below. Don says it shows him face-to-face with QPR keeper Phil Parkes but, surely, that is the stand at Molineux in the background? Don only played in the first team once at Molineux, against Luton, so, for now, we are sticking with our caption, but we are willing to be corrected if anyone knows better!
