Wolves Represented in China

Wolves have recently had two coaches selected by the Premier League to fly out to Beijing as part of a partnership between the Beijing Olympic Delivery Authority (BODA) and The Premier League’s ‘Premier Skills’.

For one week Gareth Prosser (Assistant Academy Manager) and Lee Smith (Wolves Community Trust Officer), alongside one other coach from Tottenham Hotspur, coached football skills to 36 participants from Beijing and the surrounding areas, most of which were youth leaders, teachers, or coaches.

Premier Skills is an exciting partnership between the Premier League and the British Council that is delivering community sports development around the world.

Each expedition acts as a community coach education programme that runs as a series of one week coaching sessions, delivering practical grassroots football and workshops on community development, leadership skills and social inclusion.

So far there have been 22 projects in 15 countries across Africa, China, India and South East Asia.

BODA are aiming to build a legacy and sustainable programme of sport in Beijing after the Olympics last year, and after seeing the work that Premier Skills did during the Asia trophy are now looking to testing the courses as a pilot with their chosen individuals from the local community.

Will Clowes, Wolves Community Trust manager, said of Lee and Gareth’s involvement: “We’re delighted to be involved with Premier Skills. The initiative provides a great opportunity for the participants to gain firsthand experience and training from some of the top coaches from Premier League clubs. “Lee and Gareth’s selection for this international trip demonstrates the high standard of expertise we have here at Wolves.”

Gareth Prosser said of the experience: “It was a privilege to be selected to deliver this course in Beijing and overall it was a terrific experience for us all to be involved in. “Minor issues such as time difference, hot weather, and translation were quickly overcome on the first day and overall the course was a big success. “Feedback from the participants was very positive and it’s now important that they continue their good work from this week back in their schools and communities.’