Emilio Ballard-Matthews has described his appearance in the first-team squad at the age of just 15 as a ‘proud moment’.
The young winger was 14 less than three weeks ago and was named on the substitutes bench, as Wolves defeated Blackpool in the Carabao Cup at Molineux on Tuesday evening. Ballard-Matthews, who joined the club’s academy in the summer from Watford, has admitted that the call-up was a shock at first, but explained how that emotion soon turned to excitement as the news sunk in. His first appearance in a senior Wolves squad caps off a non-stop couple of weeks, with Ballard-Matthews also involved in England under-16 action recently.
On being in a first-team squad
“It’s a really proud moment for me to be sitting on the bench at a really young age and I’m just eager to go and do it again, hopefully get on the pitch at some time.”
On how he found out
“Yesterday (Monday) in the morning my dad got a phone call from the academy manager, Jon (Hunter-Barrett), just to say that I would be on the bench.
“I had to get up to the training ground as soon as I could so I could train with them in time. Unfortunately I didn’t make it in time because I live so far away.
“I was a bit shocked but also really excited and just ready for the game.”
A new name from @WolvesAcademy 🎓
— Wolves (@Wolves) August 29, 2023
Fifteen year-old Emilio Ballard-Matthews makes the subs bench tonight 📋 pic.twitter.com/NKfBxiJ1aH
On a busy couple of weeks
“It’s been a really exciting few weeks. I was really happy to play for England under-16s against Italy and get an appearance in the squad for Wolves, which is a really good achievement.
“I feel like it was a really good experience (with England) playing against some of the best players in Europe and playing with a really good bunch of players from England.”
On guidance from the first-team players
“A few players just told me to be ready in case it happened. At 4-0 up, they were expecting me to come on, so they were making sure I was ready.”
On his family and the first couple of months at Wolves
“They all came up to support me which is a really proud moment for them and obviously me.
“I’ve really enjoyed my time at Wolves so far and it’s been an exciting few months. I’m just keen to push on.”
