As Leon Clarke departs Wolves to join Wigan on loan for the rest of the season, David Handley gives his unique look at his time at the club.
The Transfer Window has just closed, a lot of attention has been given to the arrival of Benik Afobe and the fact that Sako will remain at Wolves until at least the end of the season, but there has also been outgoings, not just any outgoings either, true legends of the club, they may be gone but they will not be forgotten.
I was lucky enough to receive an Open Letter from them as they left the club. Here It is:
Gloves don’t usually have names, but Leon gave us names. He looked after us and loved us, he is our friend.
The first time we met Leon was one Thursday afternoon, he swaggered into Ron Flowers sports and picked us off the shelf; Ron did him a little deal, us and a snood for twenty quid. His eyes lit up and a smile erupted across his face, a smile we haven’t seen enough of lately ‘What a bargain!’ Customers looked at him like he’d lost the plot as he walked out of the shop, so happy, swinging the bag around and skipping through the door.
“Leon mate, it’s 26 degrees. Why are you buying gloves?”
But he just loves gloves. There are thousands of us living at his house now, all different colours, with different club logos; Swindon, Coventry and even a faded old Wolves pair. We all sit around together talking about the sights and football clubs we’ve seen, sometimes after a hard match Leon throws us all onto the bed and cuddles into the pile. Our parents are simple gloves, made for the snow, they live with a family up in the lakes, the quiet life walking dogs and protecting against the cold, and sometimes they question why we live this life. We weren’t made for that life, we craved the glamour, performing in front of thousands of people and seeing the world; it’s a glamorous life being a footballer’s glove and it’s a life I wouldn’t change for the world.
There are tough times too though, we have to move around a lot and sometimes we’re left in the drawer for a long time, wrong colour for the wrong kit. Sadly it looks as if they may be our fate soon; why did we have to go to Wigan? Blue and white; Coventry gloves are excited, hoping to get a run out but we’ll be in the drawer. Why couldn’t Hull have come in for us? Blackpool even. Guess we just have to hope the loan is a success and Kenny wants us back at Wolves.
While we have your attention we just wanted to say thanks. It hasn’t been Leon’s most successful time, but at least there was no ‘shush’ gesture from us, not like old Wolves gloves.
Hopefully we will be back on Leon’s hands in the premiership next year.
Love from, Leonie (Left and Roxanne (Right) – Leon’s Gloves 2014 -2015.
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