The man who made Molineux: Alan Cotterell on Sir Jack Hayward and Queen Elizabeth II | OneFootball

Alan Cotterell, now 91, reflects on shaping modern Molineux with Sir Jack Hayward and on the moments that defined a Wolverhampton revival. From a Christmas sprint to a royal opening, his story blends pride, friendship and craft.

According to ExpressAndStar.com, he challenged £15 million rebuild plans in late 1990, rang chairman Jack Harris and was summoned to Molineux. He then spent Christmas drawing a phased, cheaper redesign that kept games on site, and Sir Jack swiftly hired him from the Caribbean.

Between 1991 and 1993 three sides were rebuilt, the North Bank became the Stan Cullis Stand, Waterloo Road the Billy Wright Stand and the South Bank the Jack Harris Stand, later renamed in honour of Sir Jack Hayward. Innovations included rainwater capture, stronger safety control and reduced half-time congestion, with accessibility prioritised.

The rebuilt stadium was formally opened in 1994 by Queen Elizabeth II, a career high for Cotterell. Sitting alongside his childhood hero Billy Wright at board meetings, he forged a friendship he cherished.

Leaving the corners open became a defining choice. Enclosing them could have added around 3,000 seats, but Sir Jack preferred full houses and atmosphere over surplus capacity, fitting a club still rebuilding and keeping the compact four-stand design vibrant through the 1990s.

Cotterell later worked on Reading’s Madejski Stadium, Oxford United’s Kassam Stadium and Wolverhampton Racecourse. Now living in Perton with his wife Veronica, the keen pianist still follows Wolves and, after a 2024 90th-birthday visit to Molineux, says the memories matter most.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com