Johnny Phillips: Super fan George provided great memories at Wolves

George Dawidow’s passing last month is a reminder of supporters’ strength when rising to a challenge, no matter what obstacles are in front of them.

George was the fan whose idea for an away trip to Newcastle United during the 1989/90 season eventually led to the famous New Year’s Day airlift, when Wolves supporters chartered a fleet of Boeing-737s for the journey to the Second Division match in the north-east.

With a couple of friends, George approached Albert Bates, chairman of the official supporters’ club, several weeks ahead of the game and asked if there was any chance a small plane could be chartered for the journey as they had a big New Year’s Eve planned and didn’t fancy a long drive with a hangover the following morning.

“I had contacts within the air industry, not directly with aircraft, but with support equipment at the airports,” recalls Albert. “That’s how it kicked off, three or four businessmen asking if I could organise something for them because they didn’t fancy a five or six-hour drive having been on the pop the night before.”

The cost turned out to be quite prohibitive, upwards of £350 each, but Albert was told that if the passenger numbers went up then the price would go down.

George helped spread the word and Albert put an advert in the matchday programme to garner more interest.

The idea escalated beyond their wildest imagination and, come New Year’s Day, more than 900 supporters – many in fancy dress – headed to Tyneside from Birmingham International Airport on six Monarch Airlines Boeing-737s, along with two other planes chartered for the trip, paying £75 each for a ticket.

George dressed up as Sylvester The Cat with his wife Ann in Tweetie Pie costume, creating a bizarre scene at check-in alongside snowmen, reindeer, tigers, bears, a Pink Panther and a Santa Claus.

With Steve Bull scoring all four Wolves goals in a 4-1 victory of the Geordies, the trip went down in folklore and is widely regarded as the greatest away day in the club’s history.

“George’s passion for Wolves was unparalleled,” Albert explains. “He was a familiar face in the bedding retail market shops, where his allegiance to Wolves was well-known and respected by fans of all clubs. George’s dedication to the club extended beyond mere fandom, though; he was deeply involved in efforts to save the club during the tumultuous times under the Bhatti brothers’ ownership.”

The Bhattis’ regime between 1982 and 1986 bankrupted the club to the point of near-extinction.

George joined Albert and his wife Muriel, alongside many others who could not stand by and watch Wolves’ demise without resistance.

They mobilised the supporters in an attempt to force the absentee owners to relinquish control of the club.

“George approached me with a fervent desire to do more, believing that the efforts to save our beloved club were insufficient,” Albert adds. “This determination led us to stand for council positions, with George as the obvious candidate to spearhead the fight against the club’s potential closure.

“Our campaign significantly impacted local politics, drawing votes away from incumbent councillors and highlighting George’s influence.”

Council leader John Bird’s commitment to the supporters’ cause proved decisive and he paved the way for a rescue package involving Wolverhampton Council, Asda and developers Gallagher Estates.

“George was a regular at The Chindit pub, a popular stop on the way to all home games,” Albert continues. “Many who frequented the pub will remember George with great fondness, recalling his enthusiasm, warmth, and unwavering support for Wolves.

“His legacy extends beyond England’s borders, as he established a Wolves Supporters group in Spain, where he retired.”

He lived his later years on the continent with his second wife Amrit, with both attending the club’s pre-season tour matches in July 2022.

As Albert concludes, George’s devotion was undiminished throughout so many eras: “His spirit will live on in the hearts of all who knew him and in the club he so dearly loved.”