On this day: The night Wolves outshone stars of Real Madrid

It was a time when Wolves were considered one of the best teams in Europe. The Wanderers outshone their Spanish counterparts, who were the reining European Cup holders, under floodlights at Molineux, winning 3-2, with goals from Peter Broadbent, Jimmy Murray and Dennis Wilshaw.

Although the match was technically considered a friendly, it was a famous night at Molineux between two European heavyweights.

And former Wolves striker Ted Farmer, who watched from the stands, has recalled back to that historic game. At the time Farmer had just signed a professional contract with Wolves at the young age of 17.

Farmer, who scored 44 goals in 57 appearances for Wolves’ first team between 1960 and 1964, said: “Wolves were a tremendous club back then.

“They had strength in depth right through the ranks all the way to the fourth and fifth (reserve) teams. Wolves were probably one of the greatest sides in Europe. The crowed was absolutely brilliant that night, as you, would expect and we had a full house.”

That strength in depth saw a regular reserve player, George Showell, promoted into this first team for this fixture to replace Billy Wright who was away on England duty. Showell, who played at centre-half, would normally face off against strikers from reserve teams – but on this night he was up against the great Argentinian Alfredo Di Stéfano, who was considered the best striker in the world at the time.

An Express & Star match report noted his footballing skills from the game as ‘sheer wizardry’.

However, Di Stefano’s skills did not faze Showell, as Farmer, now 78, recalls. In fact, it was actually the polar opposite.

“The biggest memory I have got from the match is George playing Di Stefano out of the game,” said farmer. “Di Stefano was probably one of the greatest centre-forwards in the world but George was tremendous. This is what I mean about the strength from our squad.

“Our reserve players could have won the first division. George was at the club for a long time. He was such a great player and could have played in the first team at a different club. But he was understudy to Billy Wright – one of the great of all time.

“However, George was loyal to the club (and stayed).”

Showell gained a regular first-team place after Wright retired and made 218 appearances in total for Wolves.

WOLVES: Finlayson; Stuart, Harris; Clamp, Showell, Flowers; Deeley, Broadbent, Murray, Wilshaw, Mullen.

GOALS: Broadbent (52), Murray (60), Wilshaw (80)

REAL MADRID: Dominguez; Atlenza (Marquitos, 45), Lesmes; Santisteban, Santamaria, Zarranga (Ruiz, 64); Joseito, Kopa, Di Stefano, Marsal, Gento (Rial, 45).

GOALS: Marsal (14, 71); attendance: 55,169; referee: M Guigue (France).