Steve Bull granted Freedom of Wolverhampton

Wolves legend Steve Bull is being granted the Freedom of Wolverhampton. Credit: PA

Midlands football legend Steve Bull is to be presented with the highest honour his adopted home city can award - the Freedom of the City of Wolverhampton - this evening.

Only 10 individuals have been awarded the gong since 1945.

They include Beverley Knight MBE, Denise Lewis OBE and Wolves' very own Sir Jack Hayward.

All have been honoured for their outstanding achievements.

And now 'Bully' is being added to this exclusive list.

Wolverhampton City Council took the decision to recognise the former Wolves player.

A spokesperson for the authority explained why:

So what are Steve Bull's achievements?

He may have started his career with his hometown amateur team Tipton Town, but in his own words, Bully "always scored goals at all levels".

So it wasn't long before his 'back of the net' abilities were spotted and his professional career began - at West Bromwich Albion.

But after just four appearances - and two goals with the Baggies - he found his true footballing home - at Wolverhampton Wanderers FC in 1986.

A young Steve Bull at Wolves in 1992 Credit: PA

Bull then began carving his name in footballing history. As his former team describe him in its Hall of Fame:

  • He became the only player to score 50 goals for his club in successive seasons

  • He scored 306 goals for Wolverhampton Wanderers between 1985 and 1999

  • He also collected 18 hat-tricks

  • Both of these were records for the club

  • Bull made a total of 561 appearances for Wolves

  • He earned 13 international caps for England

  • He only took to the pitch in six of those games - but still scored four goals

Wolverhampton's Steve Bull breaks through the Swindon defence in a 1998 match Credit: PA

He decided against a move to a higher division club - his loyalty firmly with Wolves.

On his retirement his devotion to both the game and his club were recognised when he was awarded the MBE.

But Bully's passion for Wolverhampton and the Black Country didn't end when he left the pitch.

He founded the Steve Bull Foundation which provides support in the form of grants to organisations primarily in the Black Country and the West Midlands helping young, homeless, disabled and disadvantaged people.