The Black Country Derby – Why are West Brom and Wolves rivals?
West Brom and Wolves play out one of England’s oldest and most deeply rooted derbies.
The Black Country duo have several similarities and have enjoyed similar levels of success throughout their histories, and yet, they are so strikingly different.
West Brom were defeated by Wolves in their last clash back in January 2024, when the FA Cup tie at The Hawthorns spiralled into crowd trouble in the second half.
That game was the 163rd edition of the derby, and new Baggies boss Ryan Mason looks likely to have to wait some time before he gets his first opportunity to take a swing at their neighbours.
Here, West Brom News explores the history of the rivalry and how it became such a revered fixture.
West Brom and Wolves both founder members of the EFL
The Black Country Derby is one of the oldest in the country, with both clubs having been among the group of 12 teams that were founder members of the English Football League back in 1888.
The early clashes in the EFL were largely dominated by Wolves, who battled back from the Baggies’ early success against their rivals in the FA Cup to go unbeaten against Albion in six outings between 1888 and 1891.
As the Football League developed, the pair had similar fortunes, and were both among the best teams in the country during the early 1950s.
Wolves edged the B71 outfit to win the old First Division title by four points in 1954, with the second-placed Baggies instead securing glory in the FA Cup.
| West Brom | Stats | Wolves |
| 65 | Wins | 54 |
| 1 | League Titles (First Division/Premier League) | 3 |
| 5 | FA Cups | 4 |
| 8-0 (1893) | Biggest Win | 7-0 (1963) |
That close competitiveness has continued throughout the years, with the clubs regularly sharing divisions and cup clashes.
At the root of the rivalry is the deeply felt local pride in what are two working-class towns, where football is a huge passion.
Just nine miles separate the two clubs, and that devotion to the local area and way of life is ultimately what has driven the rivalry for all these years.
Peter Odemwingie hat-trick one of the great derby moments for the Baggies
The manner of Peter Odemwingie’s departure from West Brom has certainly rankled many over the years, but the Nigerian was a star for the Albion during his time with them.
He made himself a hero in one of the Baggies’ biggest ever derby day victories, when they humiliated Wolves with a 5-1 win at Molineux in February 2012.
The forward gave his side the lead in the first half, before adding a second-half brace to complete his hat-trick, with strikes from Jonas Olsson and Keith Andrews capping off a memorable victory.
The Albion then held the bragging rights for almost nine years until the next clash came around, and the memory of their famous win at the home of their rivals has continued to live on.
Odemwingie may be a figure who divides opinion, but he is the perfect example of how players can make themselves heroes in the Black Country Derby.
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