By Paul Fletcher

Berry in his Wolves heyday

Rewind to the conclusion of the 1978-79 season and Wolves were a top flight team, with central defender George Berry voted player of the year by the club's supporters.

A season later Berry was a key part of the Wolves side that won the League Cup.

The club seemed closer to the glory years of the 1950s, during which Wolves won the League three times, than at any time in the previous 20 years.

But Wolves soon began a rapid descent through the divisions and the men from Molineux have not tasted top-flight football since.

Berry, who is now a senior figure at the Professional Footballer's Association, feels the time has come for Wolves to reclaim their place football's elite

Wolves are on a roll form wise - the momentum is with them George Berry

"Being voted their player of the year was one of the biggest honours of my career and the fans do deserve Premiership football, they are a great set of fans," Berry told this website.

"The club has been out of the top flight for too long.

"Wolves have got the history, they are a fantastic club and they deserve to be there. You look at the stadium and there are geared for the Premiership."

Last season Wolves seemed a certainty for automatic promotion, but surrendered an 11-point lead over arch-rivals West Brom and went into the play-offs with their confidence shattered.

Division One play-off preview

But Berry reckons that unlike in previous years the team are going into the play-off against Reading with form in their favour.

"Obviously I'm a bit biased towards Wolves, but I saw Reading against Stoke and I didn't see a lot in that game to suggest the Royals will worry Dave Jones' team," added Berry.

"Wolves are also on a roll form-wise - the momentum is with them.

"They have the right squad, the right manager and the impetus to get through.

"They are going into the semi-final tie in a better frame of mind than the Reading lads."

Berry also reckons the experience Denis Irwin and Paul Ince have brought to the squad could be crucial in the white hot atmosphere of the play-offs.

Berry, right, with Thierry Henry at the 2003 PFA awards

"Irwin and Ince are two great signings, they have played at the top level and played in major championships," said Berry.

"They know how to win and having that experience around helps other people and that will be proven hopefully over the next couple of weeks."

Berry joined Wolves in 1975 and had seven years at the club before spells at Stoke, Doncaster, Peterborough and Preston.

But despite making close to 400 League appearances Berry still feels anxious before watching a match and is expected a bout of nerves before the play-off matches.

"I'm always nervous when I watch Wolves. I get all the signs I used to when I was playing, I become agitated and get itchy palms.

"But now that I'm a fan I realise what the players put the fans through. Unfortunately there is nothing that I can do about it because I'm too old and too fat to play, though I still think I can."

However, if Wolves do end the season a Premiership side Berry is adamant there will be a massive celebration.

"I don't think anyone will be able to remember the night.

"If it is anything like the night we came back with the League Cup it will be a huge party, we had a fantastic time."