Wolves Are The Champions

A team of Wolverhampton Wanderers youngsters enjoyed a day to remember when they were crowned winners of the National Kickz Cup 2011.

The Under 16’s boy’s team, who attend the Wolves Community Trust Kickz project held at Aldersley Leisure Village every Friday and Saturday evening, lifted the coveted trophy at Kickz Cup Winners Trophy at Wembley Powerleague Centre.

Wolves were up against Kickz teams from Liverpool, Newcastle United, Chelsea and Leyton Orient in the group stage of the tournament, which was supported by Nike. A semi final against Manchester City resulted in a 2-1 victory enabling the boys to progress through to the final against Watford.
A thrilling 10 minute game saw the boys 3-0 down after 8 minutes, but the team found the unstoppable Wolves spirit and pulled it back to 3-3 in the last 2 minutes of the game. Sudden death penalties saw Watford’s first shot saved by the Wolves goalkeeper followed by a great top corner strike resulting in Wolves being crowned the Champions.

The competition was a result of seven regional qualifiers that took place across the country engaging both volunteers and participants from the 43 Kickz clubs across the country. The Midlands regional was hosted here in Wolverhampton and saw both Wolves Under 14’s and Under 16’s teams progress through to the National Finals.

The Wolves under 14’s team were also highly commended for their efforts during the tournament after finishing 5th overall, but praised about their fantastic attitude during the group stages of their final.

The award winning Kickz programme, whose primary funders are the Premier League and Metropolitan Police, uses the power of football and appeal of professional football clubs to build safer, stronger, and more respectful communities through the development of young peoples potential.

Jennifer Mildenhall, Wolves Community Trust, Kickz and Community Engagement Officer said: 'We are so proud of what our young people have achieved in such a short space of time, not only with regards to their football but with their attitude and aspirations too. The lads that attended on the day are from quite a deprived area of Wolverhampton so the chance to go to London and represent Wolves is not something that happens to them everyday. This time last year, the Wolves Community Trust Kickz project hadn’t even begun delivery so for them to have achieved what they have done in such a short space of time is phenomenal, and now to win the National Kickz Cup is the icing on the cake. These lads are a credit to themselves, the local community and the football club and we can’t speak highly enough of them.'