ANOTHER addition to the region’s football heritage was secured last Friday with the unveiling of a blue plaque for arguably one of the most gifted scouts in the history of the game.

Mark Crook has had a permanent reminder to his success cemented to the one-time home of his former feeder club, Wath Wanderers, who were set up by Mark to supply Wolves with players for four decades.

The plaque now sits on Cortonwood Miners’ Welfare, Brampton, to recognise his achievements in football which saw him unearth more than 100 professional footballers including a World Cup winner, FA Cup winning heroes and a player who went for a British record transfer fee.

Mark’s granddaughter Jane Whitlam unveiled the plaque alongside her family, local MP John Healey and a big crowd of onlookers which included a host of Wolves supporters.

Jane said: “To me, he was just my grandad, and you never expect anything like this.

“To see so many people there shows the huge impact he had in people’s lives.

“As a family we’re delighted this plaque is up for all to see and that it’s still a place where football is played.

“My grandad would have loved that and I’m sure he’d be wanting to see which youngsters had the most ability to this day.

“He was so devoted to Wolves and it was a real pleasure to see so many Wolves supporters there to see the unveiling.

“Hopefully it’ll be a calling point for Wolves fans in the future if they play a South Yorkshire team.’’

Mark, who lived in Wath, had played as a winger for Wolves under the legendary Major Buckley.

After retiring from playing he opened up a fish and chip shop and then came up with the idea of supplying players from what he considered a hotbed of football in South Yorkshire on to Molineux.

His greatest finds include Ron Flowers, who was in England’s 1966 World Cup-winning team and Roy Swinbourne, who like Flowers is in Wolves’ Hall of Fame.

Steve Daley, originally from Cudworth, Barnsley FC goalkeeper Harry Hough, George Robledo, Alan Sunderland, Martin Patching and the Knowles brothers Cyril and Peter were also former Wath Wanderers.

Daley attended the unveiling alongside two other players who went on to play for the Reds in Jimmy Seal and Paul Walker.

Bob Hatton made up the quartet of former professionals in attendance.

Jimmy said: “It was a good day and so well organised.

“It’s a fantastic tribute to Mark and I wish he was still alive to see it and get all the ‘well dones’ he deserved.

“I had already signed for Wolves, after being scouted by Mark, before playing for Wath Wanderers but my digs weren’t ready so I played for a month.

“I recognised the pitch I didn’t think that I would because my memory isn’t the best but I did.”

Bob Hatton, from Hull, made the journey to Wath every weekend for two years before he finally got signed by Wolves.

He described the journey from his home in the West Midlands to Brampton as ‘a pilgrimage’.

He said: “I am so glad I made the journey and when I think about it, Mark did it 100 fold.

“You look back on the little twists of fate in life and I had a lucky break with Mark.

“What a fantastic guy he was and I am so pleased he will be remembered forever because he deserves it.”

The idea to recognise Mark’s achivements was spearheaded by local football historian Chris Brook who put up a similar tribute to the Robledo brothers in nearby West Melton three years ago.

A book detailing Mark’s story and achievements will be out later this year with the profits being split between the Wolves Foundation and Brampton United JFC.

To order a copy, visit: https://dondearneschoolfootball.wordpress.com/mark-crooks-wath-wolves.