A one-club icon in an era where club allegiances were becoming increasingly fluid, Steve Bull did not merely score goals; he devoured them, leaving defenders trailing in his wake and opposition goalkeepers clutching at air.
PART ONE
Born in Tipton on March 28, 1965, Bull’s footballing journey began in humble surroundings. Attending Wednesbury Oak Primary School before moving to Willingsworth High School in 1976, he quickly distinguished himself in school football, displaying a natural predatory instinct in front of goal.
Junior sides like Ocker Hill Infants, Red Lion, and Newey Goodman benefited from his presence before he joined non-league Tipton Town upon leaving school in 1981. However, professional football seemed a distant dream as he juggled factory jobs with local football.
That dream edged closer to reality in 1984 when Tipton Town’s manager, Sid Day, also a scout for West Bromwich Albion, recommended him to the Baggies.
After initial training with the youth squad, Bull was handed a professional contract, setting him on a path to greatness. Nevertheless, West Brom never quite knew what to do with him, limiting him to sporadic first-team appearances, including a league debut against Queens Park Rangers in April 1986. But opportunities were scarce, and as Albion struggled in the Second Division, so too did Bull’s chances to make an impact.
Sometimes, destiny needs a push, and that came in November 1986 when struggling Fourth Division side Wolverhampton Wanderers took a chance on Bull, signing him and Andy Thompson for a combined £65,000. If West Brom had failed to recognize the diamond they possessed, Wolves were about to witness its brilliance in full glow.
Bull’s debut came against Wrexham on November 22, 1986, and it wasn’t long before he opened his account, scoring the winner against Cardiff City in the Associate Members’ Cup on December 2. What followed was nothing short of extraordinary.
His first full season at Wolves saw him net 19 goals, 15 of them in the league. Despite Wolves’ eventual playoff disappointment, the stage was set for something remarkable. The following season, 1987-88, he plundered a scarcely believable 52 goals in all competitions, spearheading Wolves to the Fourth Division title.
His goal-laden campaign included league hat-tricks against Exeter City and Darlington, along with cup trebles against Cheltenham Town and Brentford. He had transformed Wolves from an ailing, beleaguered club into an upwardly mobile juggernaut.
As if one promotion wasn’t enough, Bull repeated the feat in 1988-89, smashing in another 50 goals as Wolves won the Third Division title. By now, his exploits had caught the attention of England manager Bobby Robson, who—despite Bull still playing in the third tier—called him up to the national squad. On May 27, 1989, Bull made his England debut against Scotland at Hampden Park and, with the inevitability of a rising sun, he marked the occasion with a goal.
He was no longer just a Wolves hero; he was a national treasure.
PART TWO
With Wolves back in the Second Division for the 1989-90 season, Bull continued to do what he did best—score goals. He opened his account at this level with a goal against Bradford City in August 1989 and delivered a masterclass in the Black Country derby on March 20, 1990, scoring twice in a 3-2 win over West Brom.
His performances earned him a place in England’s squad for the 1990 World Cup in Italy. While he played a peripheral role behind Gary Lineker and Peter Beardsley, Bull still made four appearances as England reached the semi-finals before their heartbreak against West Germany. The sheer audacity of a player from the Second Division playing in the World Cup was a confirmation of his unrelenting quality.
While Bull continued to plunder goals in the second tier, Wolves were unable to build a side capable of winning promotion to the newly formed Premier League in 1992. Injuries began to creep in, but his commitment to Wolves never wavered. Offers came and went—Aston Villa were perennially linked—but Bull was Wolves through and through.
His final hat-trick came against Grimsby Town on August 17, 1996, in a 3-0 win, the last of his 18 trebles in a Wolves shirt. By this point, his knees were beginning to betray him, the years of relentless battles with defenders taking their toll.
Bull was no ordinary striker. He was a force of nature—powerful, direct, and utterly relentless. His game wasn’t built on finesse but on an insatiable hunger for goals. He had a knack for being in the right place at the right time, but more than that, he had a raw physicality that made him a nightmare for defenders. He would bulldoze past markers, shrug off challenges, and unleash thunderous shots that left goalkeepers stranded.
His battles with opposing centre-backs became the stuff of legend. His duels with players like Terry Butcher and Steve Bruce epitomized his fearless approach to the game. He wasn’t a striker who waited for service; he created his own opportunities through sheer determination.
By the time he retired in 1999, Bull had cemented himself as a Wolves immortal. He bowed out with 306 goals in competitive games, including 250 in the Football League. No one had ever done it quite like him at Molineux, and no one ever will.
Bull’s influence did not wane upon retirement. He was awarded an MBE in 2000 for services to football and remains a beloved figure at Wolves, frequently involved in ambassadorial roles for the club.