Wolves fans meet their heroes

The Wolves players come out of the tunnel to sign autographs for the fans at Molineux.

Wolves fans got to see their heroes close-up when the club held an open training session at Molineux.

Close to 1,000 people came through the turnstiles to see manager Mick McCarthy put his team through its paces in a two-hour session.

Armed with cameras and autograph books, fans clamoured to see their favourite players and get them to sign shirts, balls and albums. After the training session, players took time to greet the fans.

John Parker, aged 29, from Fallings Park, took his two-year-old nephew Alan Howell to watch. Alan was lucky enough to have his picture taken with goalkeeper Matt Murray.

Mr Parker said: “It’s been fantastic today. It just shows what a brilliant family club Wolves is. Alan’s loved it.

“It’s really good of the players to take time out for the people who have come along to see them.”

Shop assistant Emma Pritchard, 32, took her son Rio, five, to watch the training session and the youngster managed to get the entire team to sign his football.

Miss Pritchard, from Pendeford, said: “Rio is a big Wolves fan and he’s really loved it today. It’s also given him something to do during half-term which is also good. It’s nice, because he’ll always have something to remember his day.”

Friends Matthew Rivers and Adam Sands, 11, were on a mission to get their football signed by the entire squad. The youngsters, both from Pendeford, were particularly eager to meet striker Stefan Maierhofer, their favourite player.

Matthew said: “I enjoyed the training session. I thought some of it looked quite tough though, I don’t know if I would have been able to do it. I’ve got about 10 or 11 signatures on the football.”

Darren Hickman, 42, of Sedgley, took his daughter Emma, 12, and her friend Lucy Brown, also 12, to see the Wolves players in action.

He said: “It’s a good day out for them. We’re season ticket holders, so it was free to do it. We came before when Wolves did the photoshoot, but you don’t get a chance to do this sort of thing often.”

Both sporting their Wolves shirts, the girls were keen to get favourite player Dave Edwards’ autograph.

They also got to meet goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey, who posed for a photo with them.

Sam Norman and his sister Laura travelled from Weston, in Staffordshire, and were especially excited about seeing midfielder Michael Kightly and striker Andy Keogh.

Sam, aged eight, said: ““I’m a big, big Wolves fan.”

The Molineux open day was held in support of Wolverhampton PCT’s Food Dudes scheme, an initiative aimed at getting more youngsters to eat fruit and veg.

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