Mark Crook's Wath Wanderers

15/06/2026

This is your last chance to get a copy of Feeding The Wolves in the post in time for Father's Day...

The amazing story of Wolves's super scout features...

⚽️ Ron Flowers
⚽️ Roy Swinbourne
⚽️ Steve Daley
⚽️ Alan Sunderland
⚽️ Bob Hatton
⚽️ Jimmy Seal
⚽️ Cyril Knowles
⚽️ Jim Barron

And many more of the 114 professional players the master discovered.

⚽️ Foreword by Mick McCarthy

Order here: tinyurl.com/eBayWath

12/06/2026

There is a section in the book, Feeding The Wolves, on all the multiple generations of pro footballers who super scout Mark Crook played a part in discovering.

Leeds legend Terry Cooper was one of them and both his son and grandson followed him into the professional game.

Martin Patching was another fine Yorkshire find for Mark and Wolves and his son, Cauley Woodrow, is still an active professional.

There is also the Stobart and Palin families who can boast two generations of pros after their father, Barry and Granville respectively, were given their big break thanks to Crook.

Ahead of Father's Day, we are still posting out copies of the book at a discounted rate, and will have orders out to people ahead of the big day.

Order here: tinyurl.com/eBayWath

11/06/2026

A few years after Mark Crook recommended him for Wolves (1 x match away at Merthyr) - George Robledo became a unique player at the 1950 World Cup...

Crazy statistic - of the 279 players at the 1950 World Cup, only one played club football abroad...

07/06/2026

Did you know that Yorkshire super scout Mark Crook discovered THREE players who went to the World Cup?

Talismanic frontman George Robledo was the first. He had played for Wath Wanderers prior to signing for Barnsley FC and would very likely have been a Wolves player had Crook had his way.

He represented the country of his birth, Chile, at the 1950 World Cup in Brazil and scored in a win over the USA.

In the 1962 World Cup, in Chile, Ron Flowers scored twice from the spot in the group stages for England. He would later be part of Alf Ramsey's all-conquering squad of 1966.

And in 1970, Leeds United full-back Terry Cooper was in the England team who attempted to defend their title in Mexico. Peter Knowles had looked destined to join him at the tournament before his departure from the game due to religious reasons.

This trio are among an incredible 114 professional footballers discovered by the unrivalled Mark Crook.

Acclaimed book Feeding The Wolves pays tribute to him and his achievements. We still have a few copies left ahead of Father's Day.

To order for just £20 (including p+p), visit: tinyurl.com/eBayWath

29/05/2026

If you enjoyed Feeding The Wolves consider this a fine addition to your bookshelves.
All done and produced by sporting book guru, Steve Penny.
Already looking like a fascinating production.

24/05/2026

Super scout Mark Crook firmly believed in the sporting qualities of men from the coal mining villages in and around his hometown of Wath.

He helped get as many as he could to Wolves over a 40 year period. They included Ron Flowers, Roy Swinbourne, Steve Daley and Alan Sunderland.

In the modern day, the Wath and West Melton area remains a sporting hotbed and this weekend proved it.

Wath Upon Dearne RUFC completed an incredible season with a treble and their first Yorkshire Shield since 1961. They also won promotion to their highest ever level and had Mark's own great grandson, Jack Whitlam, playing all season at fly-half. Talismanic player/coach Ryan Burrows went all the way to the top of the sport with Newcastle Falcons. They have also helped produce an England Under 18 international in Ben Smith this season.

Today, Westville FC made it seven trophies for the season by rounding off their campaign with a 6-0 win in the Wath Cup Final. They've dominated local football so much that they are now switching leagues.

Amazingly these clubs are less than a mile apart and many of the players on both sides will have been at the local school together.

Both clubs are big parts of the community, volunteer-ran and happily backed our project to produce Feeding The Wolves. Our book tribute to the great man.

Wath lads continue to punch well above their weight and prove that what Mark said many years ago is still true.

Well done on fantastic and memorable seasons.

More information on the book at: tinyurl.com/crookwath

24/05/2026

Great weather for a final.

We will also be in attendance and have the remaining copies of Feeding the Wolves on sale.

Please come for a chat about the great Mark Crook...

19/05/2026

An incredible chance for Mark Crook's great grandson, Jack Whitlam and his teammates to help create more sporting history for the village of Wath. Mark was around the last time Wath won the Yorkshire Shield in 1961.

🏉YORKSHIRE SHIELD FINAL🏉
This Saturday we will face Harrogate Pythons in the final of the Yorkshire Shield in our last game of the 2025/26 season!
We look forward to your support on Saturday, again we will have a separate supporters coach leaving at 1pm. To book your space on the coach, contact Tom Swift!

16/05/2026

Wath Wanderer, Ken Knighton, in his days as manager of Orient.
We are uploding some old press photos.
So far just QPR tinyurl.com/qprphotos and Orient tinyurl.com/orientphotos
Eventually there will be many more photos of other clubs uploaded to tinyurl.com/pressphotographs