Wolves are saddened to learn of the passing of former wing-half Fred Kemp at the age of 80.
Kemp made just three senior appearances during his time at Molineux having initially joined the club when he was 15 as an apprentice but returned to Wolves after retirement to run the former players’ charity team.
Born in Salerno due to his father being stationed in Italy with the army, Kemp joined Wolves as an apprentice in April 1961, before signing professional forms with the Old Gold two years later.
Playing wing-half in his early days in gold and black before converting to half-back later in his career, Kemp made his professional debut for Wolves in a First Division clash at home to Leeds United in December 1964.
He would go on to play just another two times for his boyhood club over the next year before enjoying a stellar career representing Southampton – with whom he scored against Wolves in August 1968 – Blackpool, Halifax Town, Hereford United, Weymouth and Durban City.
Kemp, top row, second left, pictured as part of the 1964/65 Wolves squad
Following his stint in South Africa, Kemp would return to the UK and the West Midlands, joining Telford United in 1976, where he would bring the curtain down on his career after one season.
After his playing days came to an end, Kemp remained playing football socially in Wolverhampton, leading the former players’ charity team, while also operating a business selling furniture to offices and schools.
As the family business expanded, he hired his son-in-law – and former Fulham midfielder – John Marshall, who would eventually go on to work for Wolves as head of recruitment between 2015 and 2021.
Kemp experienced health issues for several years before his passing last week, but remained a very popular player among his contemporaries and those who came after him at Molineux.
The thoughts of everyone at Wolves are with Fred’s family and friends at this sad time.
