One Pack Week | Wolves host South Asian Emerging Talent Day

Whilst the youngsters took to the pitch, an optional workshop was run simultaneously for parents and guardians, touching on a number of topics, including nutrition in young athletes, Ramadan inclusion and opportunities available with the Wolves Foundation, who deliver a range of free-to-access wellbeing and inclusion activities in schools and in the community.

Further possibilities were also highlighted through the club’s football development department, who offer additional opportunities with football partnerships and pay-to-play skill-specific coaching sessions.  

Following the tournaments on the pitch, academy staff Jack Maydew, Darren Ryan and Calvin Smith awarded all players with medals and gave closing speeches, marking another enjoyable and educational afternoon at Compton Park. 

Maydew, head of local recruitment, said: “This is something the Premier League are really pushing and, as a Midlands club, if we look at our diversity in our teams, we can always get better. We’ve got some of the best stats in the Premier League, so it’s about celebrating that, but we’re always trying to capture as many players as we can from all backgrounds. 

“Since I started here ten years ago, it’s massively changed. We’re getting different types of players from different backgrounds and ethnically diverse communities. Different age groups give you different things, and it’s important to focus on the girl and boy sections. Everyone came away from the day knowing more about the Wolves Academy ethos and what we stand for. 

“We’re trying to bring everyone together from different backgrounds and it went really well. A lot of the boys and girls were engaged and had a lot of fun. Even if they didn’t get picked for the final, they had a good experience and trained at a professional academy. Now, everyone’s looking forward to the tournament, it’s going to be a great day, bringing everyone together to celebrate what we’re doing.”

Gurpri Bains, equality, diversity & inclusion manager, said: “The Premier League’s South Asian Action Plan is a long-term project. There are wide statistics which show that South Asian representation on the pitch is currently not reflective of the UK population of British South Asians, nor reflective of the popularity of football amongst the British South Asian community. 

“Wolverhampton is a city rich in diversity, with over 25 per cent of its population identifying as South Asian, including significant Pakistani and Indian communities, and hosting events like this helps us engage positively with parents and players of all abilities, whether they’re currently with a grassroots team or playing for fun. 

“It was great seeing families enjoy the day, but there is always more to be done, particularly engaging with young girls and expanding representation across different South Asian backgrounds, and we look forward to continuing to work with our partners, including the FA, to create positive change and inspire the next generation.”