A Wolves Foundation participant has been hailed for his ‘respectful and hard-working attitude’ by the club’s Head Coach Rob Edwards after being named the Community Captain for 2026.
Seventeen-year-old Kenzie was invited to the Compton training ground for what he thought was some routine activity connected with Premier League Kicks, one of the Foundation’s youth engagement programmes which is celebrating its 20th anniversary.
In actual fact, he was to be surprised with the Community Captain award presented by the Foundation on behalf of the Premier League as part of the More Than A Game campaign, which is a celebration of the clubs, communities, staff and participants who all work to make football a force for good.
Kenzie was given an extensive tour of the Compton training ground led by Wolves’ technical director Matt Jackson, before being taken out to meet the first team players and head coach Rob Edwards, who surprised him with the award. Edwards then later invited him and his family up for lunch in the players’ and staff canteen and spoke to him at length about his footballing journey and hopes for the future.
“Words can’t even shape how good this has been for me today,” said Kenzie.
“I had no idea this was going to happen, and even just having the tour from Matt Jackson, and seeing the facilities, was incredible.
“Then we ended up outside watching the players train and when they all came over with Rob and I was presented with the award, it was amazing.
“Coming along to Premier League Kicks has been so important for me.
“Getting the chance to play football with my mates is brilliant but it has also really shaped me as a person.
“I was always quite a shy and timid character, but the sessions really helped me work on my communication and to talk to people and make more friends.
“And now to receive this award for what I am trying to achieve is amazing and something I will never forget.”
Kenzie is currently in the lower sixth at school and has aspirations for a career within sport in some shape or form, having a keen interest in fitness and physiotherapy, whilst his participation with Premier Kicks has also seen him become part of the matchday ball crew at Molineux.
“Wolves Foundation, along with the Premier League, do so much good, giving people opportunities that otherwise they might not get,” says Edwards.
“Maybe some young people don't have the start that others get in life, but meeting Kenzie - he's a fantastic young person, who shows up, shows an amazing attitude, is always respectful and honest and hard-working, which are a lot of the values that we want to hold dear to us as well as a football club.
“He loves Wolves, he's in the ball crew, he referees here as well, and with people who love this football club, it's important that we try and share that.
“I know it's been a tough period for the football club and for the supporters as well, and we're trying to bring everyone together again to mend that, to build, first of all, a team and a club that the supporters can be proud of.
“But we're all in this together and we can all help each other. it's not lost on me and us how important the supporters of this city are to our success as well. It goes hand in hand, and the Foundation delivering this sort of work in the community is vitally important.”
Premier League Kicks uses the power of football to inspire young people in some of the most undeserved communities across England and Wales. The Foundation deliver the sessions at many different venues throughout Wolverhampton.
“Premier League Kicks use the power of football to create a safe and welcoming environment for young people to reach their full potential,” says Kurran Kullar, Youth Engagement Manager with Wolves Foundation.
“This year is the 20th anniversary of the programme, so as part of the More Than A Game initiative, our Community Captain is one of our participants from the project.
“Kenzie is someone who embodies both the project and the values of the Foundation and the club as a whole.
“He is someone that has been on Premier League Kicks for a number of years, and when he first came in, he was a bit shy and low in confidence.
“But over the years we have all seen him grow, and take every opportunity that comes along, and we are all really proud of him.
“It feels like he knows about the value of hard work which I am sure is something Rob is massive on, so it was great that he presented the award, especially as Kenzie is such a dedicated Wolves fan.
“It’s a dream come true for him and it sums up everything that we are about in youth engagement at the Foundation – creating opportunities for young people to shine.”
