Participants at Wolves Foundation’s Premier League Kicks session in Heath Town Park got a glimpse of the famous trophy, decked in the colours of current champions Manchester City.
As part of the league’s 30th Anniversary, the Premier League Trophy Tour is visiting more than 50 professional, non-league and women’s clubs across England and Wales who receive funding from the Premier League.
As well as iconic moments on the field, the anniversary is also shining a light on unsung heroes off the pitch, by naming a ‘Community Captain’ for each club.
Wolves’ Community Captain, cohesion coach Matt Elcock, was presented with his award by head coach Bruno Lage at Molineux ahead of the Fulham fixture.
And the Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Sandra Samuels OBE, attended the day to meet Elcock, presenting Matt with a special Community Captain plaque engraved with his name, as an extra memento.
She said: “Matt Elcock is amazing because of the achievements he has made with these children, but also he is such a humble individual. What he’s done to turn the lives of some of these children around is fantastic and the award is well deserved.
“I find sessions like this not just help and support the children but there’s a health benefit here as well. It helps them to keep fit and it’s something for me, as the mayor of this city, that ordinarily a lot of children within these areas wouldn’t be able to afford to participate in, so Wolves Foundation putting this on is a great opportunity for them.”
Local MP Jane Stevenson and Councillor Beverley Momenabadi were also at the event and able to see first-hand the difference the Foundation can make for young people.
“It’s great to see a lot of kids out enjoying football, keeping fit during the summer holidays and learning new skills,” said Ms Stevenson, whose Wolverhampton North East constituency includes Heath Town.
“Wolves Foundation do so much in the city and to have the Premier League trophy here as well makes it really special. I think with the black and gold in our blood in Wolverhampton, that extra magic that the Wolves Foundation brings just gets people off their sofa and gets them involved.
“Matt Elcock is fantastic. I think it’s brilliant that someone who got involved when they were a youngster is now coaching full-time with the Foundation. I think it’s a little bigger than he anticipated, but it’s so lovely to celebrate someone who has done so much for the city.”
Cllr Momenabadi, who is the cabinet member for children and young people’s services at the City of Wolverhampton Council, added: “Just seeing young people enjoying themselves, interacting with each other and keeping fit has been really refreshing.
“We’ve had a really hard couple of years because of Covid, which has taken its toll on a lot of young people, not just their physical health but their mental wellbeing as well.
“In the city we’re really trying to make sure that we offer opportunities for young people to thrive and this is exactly what these sessions are about.”
Wolves Foundation’s Kicks sessions have been taking place in local parks over the summer holidays, allowing 8-18 year-olds to stay active and engaged in a safe environment during the break from school.
Luke Shearing, inclusion and cohesion manager at Wolves Foundation said: “Our Kicks in the Park sessions this year have been the most successful yet. We’ve expanded to offer activities in four areas this summer – West Park, East Park, Bantock Park and here at Heath Town Park.
“The trophy tour is a once in a lifetime opportunity for these young people to see the trophy up close, and we’re so grateful to the Premier League and all our local stakeholders who could support the event.
“As his manager, but also as a friend, I’m so proud of our Community Captain Matt Elcock and the significant impact he’s had on young people in the city.”
The Community Captain accolade is being given to more than 100 members of the public who have made an outstanding contribution to their club and local community.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said: “As we mark 30 years since the Premier League first kicked off, it is important we celebrate the unsung heroes who deliver brilliant work in their communities. These people – whether they are participants, coaches, volunteers or long-time employees – are the lifeblood of their clubs and their communities.
“The continued success of Premier League football enables us to provide unprecedented investment in communities and wider football. As we look to the future, we are committed to investing more than ever, to help develop the game and provide opportunities to people of all ages.”
