A truly wonderful afternoon was had by almost 100 young people last week as they were ‘bowled over’ by a number of Wolves players from the men’s and women’s first teams.
The children with SEND (Special Education Needs & Disabilities), from several schools and Wolves Disability FC, were treated to a couple of games at Hollywood Bowl, before the players – and Wolfie – arrived for a string of selfies and autographs.
Sam Johnstone, Dan Bentley, Matt Doherty, David Moller Wolfe, Tolu Arokodare and Jorgen Strand Larsen from the men’s team, and Lily Simkin, Louanne Worsey and Anna Grey from the women’s, proved great sports in spending plenty of time with the young people to give them an afternoon to remember just over a week before Christmas.
“It has been absolutely amazing today,” said Josh, one of the Under-16 players with Wolves Disability FC.
“To come and do some bowling, and then see the players show up, it’s been unreal.
“I’m a massive Wolves fan and season ticket holder who watches these players every week.
“It is lovely that they have come to see us and to meet them in person, ask a few questions and get a picture is amazing.”
The visit was organised as part of the Foundation’s Sporting Chances project, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, which aims to encourage more young people with disabilities to become involved in physical and sporting activity across the city and surrounding areas.
On a weekly basis, activities are delivered to 11 to 25-year-olds with SEND (Special Education Needs & Disabilities) at different sites in Wolverhampton and the Black Country.
This also includes extra-curricular activities in education settings including schools and community venues, and in attendance at the Christmas visit were students from Sutton School in Dudley, Ormiston NEW Academy, Our Lady & St Chad Catholic Academy, Walsall College and the Brier School in Kingswinford.
“We have Foundation staff Gavin (Jones) and Mark (Bromley) come in and run an after-school club at school and the students love it,” said Mr Ross, PE teacher at the Sutton School.
“We have been able to go to Molineux and get involved in some workshops which has also been great.
“The Wolves badge carries a lot of influence at school, where we’ve got a lot of Wolves fans, and it was an incredible surprise for them to meet the players.
“They are absolutely loving it, and when you see all the smiles on their faces it makes it all worth it.”
The Brier School are also part of the Primary League Primary Stars programme delivered by the Foundation, a project which provides free lesson plans, activities and video content for boys and girls aged 5 to 11.
“Foundation staff come in and deliver lessons to different levels of our students and they all really enjoy it,” said PE teacher Ms Nattrass.
“And then they get to enjoy visits like this, which is all they have been talking about since they found out about it.
“This is the only time a lot of our kids get to enjoy experiences like this – one of them has never been bowling before – and as football fans, and Wolves fans, they are absolutely buzzing.”
The bowling visit was one of several carried out by the men’s, women’s and Academy players in the build-up to Christmas.
Others included visiting the Newcross Care Home in Fallings Park to help put up the decorations, both former and current players joining in the fun at Molineux Memories sessions and a trio of women players attending a party for foster families at Molineux.
The Foundation also organised many other different festive events based on projects such as Yo! Active, Wolves Elders, Premier League Kicks, Kick Off, Healthy Goals, Active Through Football and Head 4 Health.
