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A children’s soccer team from Shrewsbury called the Harlescott Wolves has received official backing from it Premiership namesakes. Mighty Wolverhampton Wanderers has not only given the youngsters its blessing, but provided almost £2,000 in sponsorship, including two complete playing strips.

The Harlescott Wolves was set up by the Local Policing Team who felt regular football sessions would provide a healthy activity for bored youngsters who might otherwise become involved in anti-social behaviour.

Its squad of eight to 12-year-olds even wrote to the Molineux based club seeking permission to use its nickname, the Wolves. They also designed a wolf’s head emblem bearing a striking similarity to the official Wolves badge, which received full approval from the Wolverhampton club.

And today, representatives from Wolves, visited The Grange Primary School to present two sets of kit to boys and girls from the Harlescott Wolves squad.

Rachael Heyhoe-Flint, Wolves Aid trustee - the Wanderers official charity - was accompanied by Wolfie the mascot, much to the delight of the youngsters.

She said: “Wolves Aid, part of the Wolves Community Trust, is one of the biggest football charities in the country and donates thousands of pounds annually to local charities and community projects.

“A scheme such as this, where youngsters can stay out of trouble and get fit at the same time, is exactly the sort of cause that we, as a charity, like to help out.

“Most of our funding is geared towards helping organisations that support the positive development of community life, and this project fits the bill perfectly.”

She paid tribute to the efforts of the police in setting up the scheme and wished the youngsters every success with their football. “The police have given the youngsters a real football opportunity. Social ills such as obesity and kids hanging around on street corners are very prevalent these days, and our funding for the police scheme will encourage youngsters who might not otherwise have an opportunity to play sport.”

PC Scott Smither, Local Policing Officer for Harlescott, said: “We are very grateful to Wolverhampton Wanderers for their financial support, without which, the Harlescott Wolves could not be run.

“The youngsters were all delighted to meet Rachael and Wolfie. Thanks to Wolves we have got something very special in Harlescott.”

He and his community support officers have undertaken their FA coaching badges to run the soccer sessions which are currently held on the all-weather pitches at The Grange Sports Centre on Friday nights from 5pm to 6pm.

Similar sessions for the 13-16 age group follow-on for an hour from 6pm. These were introduced a fortnight ago and are already proving popular.

Boys and girls from the Harlescott area are invited to attend their relevant age groups. There is no charge.

(PICTURED: Front, from left, Jack Caunt, Rachael Heyhoe-Flint and Tyler Morris. Back, Ben Davies, PC Scott Smither and Holly Spence.
The other features Wolfie and some of the older players from Harlescott Grange School)