Wolves set up partnership with Indian I-League club

Tuesday 13 Jul 2010
Back to news >

A community-led project has been set up between Wolves and India I-League club Jagatjit Cotton and Textile (JCT FC), with the aim of producing a player good enough to join the Molineux academy.

Yesterday, five young players from JCT and their coach, Parminder Singh, arrived at Wolves to spend a week developing their skills.

Originally the brainchild of Punjab Wolves – the 500-strong multi-cultural group of gold and black devotees – the first seeds of the link-up between the clubs was sown in May 2008 when Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey and assistant manager Terry Connor, as well as Wolverhampton MP Pat McFadden, travelled to JCT’s new complex in Hoshiarpur.

This week will see the Wolves academy coaches pass on their knowledge to Singh, who will return to the Punjab at the end of the week with his players ready to implement the new techniques and advice.

Singh explained: “The ultimate dream is to get a player over here but the game needs to develop because football is not the main sport – cricket is so big there.”

Wolves academy boss Kevin Thelwell said: “First and foremost, it’s a lead on the community-based thing we had previously in terms of the visits to India with Jez and Terry.

“I want to build on that link, but in due course, the main aim is to develop an Asian player to play for Wolves’ first team.

“It’s very much about the players getting an experience of what the football is like over here and for them to be able to take that, as well as the features and characteristics of our players, back home.

“But it’s also heavily based on coach education and we’ve been talking to Parminder about the way in which we work with the players, not just in pre-season, but also during the season and how we fit our games into that structure.

“We’ve also been talking in terms about the way we play from a technical perspective. We’re hoping we’ll have a couple of Wolves coaches who will go out to India and support the link further in that respect in terms of coach education. It’s a solid relationship on all fronts.”

Excerpt from Express & Star

Report an incident of discrimination confidentiallymore >

 

  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012
  • 2011
  • 2010
"We have a responsibility as players to give something back and I’m really thankful to be part of this organisation because we can do a lot of good."
Jack Butland, 'Next 20' Ambassador
“A big part of my involvement with Kick It Out stems from my strong admiration for the organisation’s commitment to fairness and equality.”
Clive Tyldesley, football commentator
“It was Kick It Out that convinced the people in football that change was possible.”
Greg Dyke, former FA chairman
“I wanted to thank the campaigners at Kick It Out for their work. I know first-hand how Kick It Out can help.”
Yaya Toure, Manchester City midfielder
“It is important for me in my role as a Kick It Out ‘Next 20’ ambassador to teach young people how to handle discrimination and treat people with respect.”
Romelu Lukaku, 'Next 20' Ambassador
“It is a massive honour for me to be an ambassador for such a great organisation. I think they do great work on and off the field.”
Toni Duggan, 'Next 20' Ambassador
"It really helped me to see that other professional sports people were acknowledging their sexuality. I read about John Amaechi, Gareth Thomas and Tom Daley. They weren't footballers but the fact that they went public gave me the feeling that I was not alone."
Thomas Hitzlsperger, former Aston Villa midfielder
"There was no conflict between religion and the fact that I wanted to play football. I was brought up correctly and in the right way and my parents are very proud of the fact that I am a professional footballer."
Sadio Mané, Liverpool winger
“I think it’s important to share success stories and realise that there are women operating in the game. If it’s something you want to do, you can do it.”
Ffion Eade, Hampshire FA referee
"I've had loads of negative comments from men, especially growing up. It's just boring and old. Times have changed, and they continue to change. Women play football, and they're good at it, and have been for a number of years.”
Kelly Smith, England Women's record goalscorer
"Despite the progress, stereotypes still exist in football and until that is broken down it will be extremely difficult for a woman to manage a top level men's team."
Rachel Yankey, former Arsenal Ladies forward
"There’s no hiding that there is sexism in sport. We have a lack of women right across all levels of management, playing and coaching. It shows the closed nature of sport in general and this includes the media. It’s an indictment of sport as a whole."
Rimla Akhtar, Kick It Out trustee and Chair of the Muslim Women’s Sports Foundation
“I’m proud to be a supporter of Kick It Out and particularly the work they are doing to combat antisemitism within football.”
Joe Jacobson, Wycombe Wanderers midfielder
"With Kick It Out leading the way football is standing up and fighting against those who preach hatred and intolerance and we at Chelsea are proud to support their work."
Bruce Buck, Chelsea Football Club Chairman

Archives

  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012
  • 2011
  • 2010