Moving tributes were paid to Wolves archivist, fan, friend of the players: Steve Plant as his book launch at the Mount Hotel In Tettenhall. Steve passed away not long ago but the book launch went ahead along with a display of Wolves shirts from Steves collection.
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00:00to his work with charities, and the ends that he went to, to bring an amazing pictorial vision of the crazy times of War for Hamilton 107.
00:13All the looks and the great stuff, the crazy changes and the designs that we endured and found quite remarkable, from rose pink to black and back.
00:28As we experienced the blur and the passing of time, and the passing of players and managers, owners, the good guys and the bad guys,
00:39Steve's work was a constant communication between the eras in the history of the game, in the game of life and the grit and passion.
00:50Now, he leaves us with his final pride and joy, and the all-golden black.
00:56So, Alfa, again, my condolences, and sadly, posthumously, I guess, for him, my congratulations for the great new work.
01:06His final, as it happens, pride and joy, all-golden black.
01:11Ben wore the shirt as an incredible legacy for Planty. In short, it always had a place in Wolves' history, but of course, he was about so much more than that.
01:20It was everything he put his heart to when it came to Wolves. He got people on board, he got people to buy into his ideas,
01:27and that sort of collaborative effort was what spawned an incredible book, which has been so well-received.
01:33A couple more after that, and then, obviously, this latest one that's coming out now.
01:37And then those phenomenal nights at Molyneux that he put on, those tribute dinners for so many players, they were some of the best times, those nights.
01:44My favourite was the Steve Bourne one, obviously, as a hero of mine, but they were all fantastic.
01:49And they brought the best out in people, the best out in fans, everyone getting on so well together, and everyone just enjoying themselves.
01:55And Planty had this great ability of making people feel wanted, feel special, and that you were part of something.
02:03He also had no hesitation about asking for a favour here and there if he needed it as well.
02:08And that was all part of, you know, one pack, I guess you could say, of just what Wolves fans are all about.
02:13Supporting each other, helping each other, and making the best of what they have.
02:17And Planty's dedication, not just to Wolves, but to everything, to his friendships, and everything around that, was something that really stood him out.
02:26And the fact that he brought so many people together as well.
02:30I met so many different people, supporters I'd never met before, just because of Planty.
02:34And he's great at that.
02:35We only found out a few years into my time with him, really, that I'd actually met him and his great mate, Fozzy, years and years earlier,
02:43in the stands on John Island, the stands where I was a kid and used to come down to the matches as a kid.
02:48And it was great to be able to reconnect and follow up on those times.
02:53And then, in more recent years, I've had an appointment with him in Barcelona as well, when Wolves were on that fantastic European tour.
03:00But, you know, Planty has so much to be remembered by.
03:04It's just such a great, great sadness that he can't be here to see his latest work being so well received, and I'm sure it will be.
03:11Because everything he put his heart to, just he was so, so dedicated.
03:15And it's an absolute measure of the man that he leaves so many great friendships behind, and so many great times behind as well.
03:22But also has something to show for all those efforts in the work he did with They Wore A Shirt and beyond.
03:28So, Planty, I cannot believe I'm sitting here and doing this video with my mates.
03:34I think it's something that I never thought I'd have to do.
03:37I think it's something that I never wanted to do, I think.
03:41To start with, what can I say?
03:44From me, and my family, and my wife, and my children, and my mum and dad, and my brother,
03:49I think it's just a massive thank you to you, and what you've done for me.
03:53What you've done for iBeat Club, because that's what it is.
03:55It's an incredible football club, and it's your football club.
03:58And how you support it, and how you drove it, and how you pushed it.
04:02What you've done for all those charities, mates.
04:05The books you wrote, and the books I've got in my house here.
04:08I still look at every day, remembering the times, and remembering the days that we had at Wolves.
04:14I think, just for me, it's a massive thank you for how you've taken me on your own, mate.
04:19What you've done for me, how you drove me, how you believed in me as a person.
04:23Especially the captain as well, because that was a huge moment for me in my career, and my life.
04:27To be made captain of that great club.
04:29The way you drove everything, and the way you pushed me, and believed in me.
04:32I'll never forget it.
04:34Obviously, seeing you for the last time at the night in Wolverhampton,
04:39where we also spent a bit of time together, and answered a few questions.
04:43But that time we all spent together, mate, was special.
04:46I'll always remember it forever and ever.
04:48Like I said, to sit here now and do this video is really tough.
04:51But I just want to promise you, mate, I don't think any person from Wolverhampton,
04:55any person who knows you, any person who knows what you've done for that city,
04:59and that football club, will ever forget me.
05:02Thank you for everything. Thank you for what you've done for my family.
05:05I'll always miss you, mate. I'll always miss you.
05:07To discover that one of the shirts that I wore, like this,
05:14back in my time at Wolverhampton, began an extraordinary journey
05:20for a special friend, a special human being,
05:24and a fantastic supporter, Steve Plant, who is no longer here with us today.
05:33Really, really devastating news when I heard it.
05:38Steve is such a humble, humble person.
05:40Like I said, you know, our discussions, the time I've met him,
05:48just a superhuman being.
05:51I can speak highly of you, Steve, and that you're not here with us.
05:55You are such a gentle giant, but also an angel on earth.
06:03Through your dedication, in terms of collecting the items for MOOCs,
06:09I'm honoured to know that my shirt was an inspiration to yourself.
06:17Over these years, what you've done in terms of going out of your way to help others
06:22is just remarkable.
06:25I can't speak highly enough of you, Steve, who are not here with us today.
06:31But your memory, your legacy, you leave with me, you leave with so many people,
06:39especially the wanting faithfuls for the rest of our lives.
06:44And in our eyes, you are a real legend.
06:49You are special to us all.
06:53And I really, really hope Andrea, your daughter, and your family
06:59can stay courageous during this very difficult moment for us all.
07:06And when you're looking down on us and smiling,
07:09with all those discussions we used to have,
07:12and when you sit down on the MOOCs and the training ground, like I said,
07:16whenever we could find that one second, a minute, two minutes,
07:22however long the conversation lasted,
07:25however long we started, or we stopped, it's gone.
07:29I hope, and I pray, and talk to, and advise them.
07:37May you rest in eternal peace.
07:40And when you look down on us,
07:41I hope you carry on promoting your legacy,
07:46because your legacy touched lives,
07:49and it certainly touched generations.
07:53I thank you for everything you do.
07:55And for myself, for Andrea and for us,
07:59for those in London, just here, thank you.
08:03We will miss you.
08:05And we love you.
08:06And we love you.
08:08And we pray that you carry on resting in eternal peace.
08:16Hello everyone.
08:18Hugo Neves here.
08:20I'm missing you a lot.
08:23It's an honour for me to be part of this release,
08:30for obvious reasons.
08:33First of all, because it's a bit of me in the book,
08:40I was honoured to write the foreword of the book,
08:46and to share with everyone a bit of my story.
08:51In Wolves, in Wolverhampton,
08:54you know that six years meant a lot to me and to my family.
09:00We see you have a big family, not only the football club,
09:05but everything that is around.
09:08There where we lived in Tampines,
09:12everyone was very kind with us,
09:14so we feel like a big family that we have there.
09:20And we can't wait to go there and visit all of you.
09:25But now, this is even more special,
09:30because it's not a simple book release.
09:35This is a tribute to someone
09:39who spent the life to play the wolf,
09:43to someone who loves the wolf.
09:46And like I told you,
09:48I was fortunate to be part of that book,
09:52and I hope that he can see this,
09:56that we are doing to him.
09:58I hope he can feel the love of everyone here,
10:03and I'm sure he'll be very proud of this,
10:08because thanks to his family, thanks to his friends,
10:12the book will be released.
10:14And I know it's something, I'm sure it's something
10:18that he really wanted to do,
10:21so I'm very happy for everyone involved on this.
10:27And like I told you,
10:30it's an honor for me to be part of it,
10:33and to be able to get a copy for me
10:38that Steve promised me, the copy number 8,
10:41so that means a lot to me, to my family,
10:46and I'm 100% sure he'll be very proud of this.
10:52So a big hug to you,
10:55kisses from all my family,
10:58and I hope to see you soon. Bye-bye.