During One Pack Week 2024, Wolves is shining a light on the diversity of the club and celebrating the work being carried out to increase inclusion and equality in football.
To launch this week’s celebrations, the club has unveiled a ground-breaking photograph featuring a diverse range of current players, legendary players, staff and fans, all of whom are from different background but form part of the pack.
During an event held at Molineux last week, 19 people of various gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, age and disability came together for a first of its kind photoshoot celebrate their differences as well as their shared love - Wolverhampton Wanderers.
We're all unique. We're all Wolves.
Left to right: Frazer, David, Edna, Mario Lemina, Layla Banaras, Steve Bull, Abbie, John Richards, Destiney Toussaint, Reepa, Maximilian Kilman, Donna, Amber Sandhu, Felicity, Hee Chan Hwang, Daz James, Katie Johnson, Mahesh and Kian.
Click on the image to view in full screen.
The participants in the photograph also spoke about why our differences and similarities make us who we are and make the Wolves pack even stronger.
Frazer
- Young Wolves fan who was born blind and uses audio description commentary on matchday. He was a mascot for One Pack Week 2023
What makes everyone unique?
“We all like different things, like different players and do different things and do things a lot differently.”
What would it be like if everyone was the same?
“It would be very boring because you’d just be talking about the same thing. You want to be talking about different things sometimes.”
Why do you love being a part of the pack?
“It’s just really enjoyable being a Wolves fan. I couldn’t change my team – I wouldn’t want to, but even if I did, I couldn’t, because it’s just great.”
David
- Wolves fan of 50 years and a member of the LGBTQ+ community
What makes everyone unique?
“Underneath, despite all the differences that we have regarding personality, race, religion, gender, sexuality, we’re all human beings. We all have the same loves, passions and desires and we should all be free to be our authentic selves and proud to be Wolves supporters.”
What would it be like if everyone was the same?
“It would be completely boring. We don’t want that. We want people to be themselves. We want diversity, we want rivalry and banter, but what we don’t want is hostility and nastiness. There is no part for that in football.”
Why do you love being a part of the pack?
“We all get to be part of this amazing football club. Whether you’re a current player, a former player, a fan or a member of staff, we all get to be part of the legacy of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club.”
Edna
- 93 year old fan who attends Wolves Foundation’s Molineux Memories sessions
How long have you been a Wolves fan?
“I’m 93 and I’ve been a Wolves fan for my whole life. My house in gold and black.”
How often do you come to Molineux?
“We come up every week as part of the Foundation’s Molineux Memories group and we just sit and talk, meet up, have a lunch and a drink and just share our memories.”
Why do you love being a part of the pack?
“It’s lovely, isn’t it? It’s very nice. I love it. It’s marvellous. To come and watch games with everyone at Molineux, I do really enjoy it.”
Mario
- Men’s first-team midfielder and Gabonese international
What makes you, you?
“My background, my family and my origin make me who I am and make me respectful to the people I have around me.”
What brings everyone together at Wolves?
“It’s not just about football, but football is what brings us together. There is a joy of all being together every week, supporting each other, living these games together, and being in love with what we are doing.”
What would it be like if everyone was the same?
“Flat. It would be flat. We need all different kinds of people either in football or in real life, because that is what makes the world different and makes the world special.”
Layla
- Women’s first-team defender and practicing Muslim, who took part in Ramadan this year and was on the panel for Wolves’ Iftar Feast last week
What makes you, you?
“Being a football and my religion – that is what makes me, me. Football is a big part of who I am. There are lots of things that make us all different, but when it comes to football, we are all the same.”
Why is your faith an important part of your identity?
“Faith is really important because it’s part of who I am and it’s something I love and I don’t shy away from telling people.”
Why do you love being a part of the pack?
“It feels like a home. Everyone is so lovely, so welcoming and so nice.”
Steve
- Club legend and Wolves’ record goalscorer
What unites everyone at Wolves?
“We’re all flesh and blood and we all join together when we’re supporting this club, and that shows the unity you can get whatever differences you might have.”
What would it be like if everyone was the same?
“We’re all from different races, different nationalities, different backgrounds and it would be boring if we were all the same.
Why do you love being a part of the pack?
“I’ve been here many, many years and I love this club. If you want to be a part of this pack, stick with us.”
Abbie
- Under-16 disability player who was part of the team which played at half-time in this year’s Foundation Fixture against Sheffield United
What makes you, you?
“Probably sport, because I just love playing football and other sports. I love being part of a team.”
Why does football bring different people together?
“Because of their love of the game. Everyone is equal. Some people may play football, some people might not, but we all love it.”
Why is it good to have diversity?
“We can all have differences and be who you want to be, instead of copying other people, but it’s good to be part of a community where everyone is welcome and no-one is judging you.”
John
- Legendary Wolves striker
How does football bring different people together?
“Because we all love Wolves. It could be because you like the colour of the strip, it could be because you’ve been to Molineux, or you’ve heard about Billy Wright or you’ve heard about Ruben Neves, it’s one thing that triggers off in you and it stays with you.”
What makes everyone unique?
“I’m different from everybody else, they’re different from me, but it’s my belief that we are here on this earth to help each other, look after each other and work with each other. It’s a pack mentality of all being one family, whatever your differences.”
Why do you love being a part of the pack?
“Because it’s been such a large part of my life. It’s my second family. I have my own family at home, but Wolverhampton Wanderers is a family to me.”
Destiney
- Women’s first-team winger
What makes you, you?
“I’m definitely a caring person and someone who wants to be there for other people. I’m also quite an extrovert person, so I can be quite silly and immature at times but know when to be sensible. I like to have a laugh and know life is for living, I love to play football, travel the world and help people on the way.”
What would it be like if everyone was the same?
“I think it would be a bit dull. If everyone was the same and brought the same thing, you wouldn’t have that individuality. You need a spark from different people. It’s great how all different people can come together and achieve great things.”
Why do you love being a part of the pack?
“I love being a part of the pack because we’re a family, we’re a team, we stick together and it’s a very positive place to be.”
Reepa
- Wolves Records artist
How diverse is the pack?
“I think it’s really diverse. People from different backgrounds, people from different cultures, and you’ve got lots of different figureheads within the club and outside of the club with great representation. The diversity across the club is second to none and brings us all together as one pack.”
What about football unites everybody?
“Football is all about a team of individuals working together to achieve one common goal. It’s teamwork, it’s a pack mentality and it’s Wolves. Everybody has their own role as we represent Wolverhampton and the football club.”
Why do you love being a part of the pack?
“It means so much to me. The pack is in my heart. I rave about it, I sing about it, and I love representing my city and the football club, and I’m thankful for the opportunities that I get.”
Maximilian
- Men’s first-team captain
What makes everyone unique?
“Everyone has their own story. How they’ve achieved what they’ve achieved and where they’ve got to in life. Everyone has their own stories and their own upbringing in life which is all really interesting.”
What is it like to be captain of a team with so many different individuals?
“It’s an honour to be captain for Wolves and we have such a diverse group. It’s great that we have so many different types of people, speaking all different languages and when we come together, it shows how strong we are as a team.”
Why do you love being a part of the pack?
“I’ve been here for a very long time and Wolves gave me my first professional contract, so this club means everything to me. I love the place and everyone in and around the club.”
Donna and Felicity
- Mother and daughter who attend matches at Molineux and Young Wolves events together
How long have you been coming to watch Wolves?
“We love coming to watch Wolves together with my two elder daughters, their Daddy and Grandad. Felicity’s been coming to Molineux since she was two weeks old and now she’s six, and we love it. Football is a something which we can all enjoy as a family. We love our football days.”
What do you like most about coming to football as a family?
“It’s just so nice to be able to share a passion and it makes me proud when I watch them joining in. The girls all want to come as well and it gives us time that we can spend together. It’s something we can all talk about at home – but it sometimes makes Daddy grumpy!”
Why do you love being a part of the pack?
“Wolves are our local team and it’s something in the city that brings everyone together, no matter who they are. We know a lot of friends who come too and we can enjoy it together.”
Amber
- Broadcaster and Wolves Foundation ambassador
What makes you, you?
“I’m a proud Punjabi girl from Wolverhampton, I’m a big talker, but the thing that makes me, me, is my love and my ability to make people laugh. I have a big smile and love making people laugh. If you can be kind and just make someone smile, I think that’s really important.”
What would it be like if everyone was the same?
“I don’t think I’d like it. There is something special about having differences, because that’s how we learn. Learning gets rid of ignorance and opens up our minds.”
How does football unite people?
“It’s a shared love. You can sit next to whoever in the stadium and you might be completely different people in every single way but the one thing you have in common is that you want Wolves to win on that pitch. What made me fall in love with sport when I was younger was the way it brings people together.”
Hee Chan
- Men’s first-team forward and South Korean international
What makes you, you?
“Family and football. If I’m playing football, I’m really happy and if I’m with my family, I’m also very happy. That’s why they’re the two most important thing to me.”
What unites a team full of different people?
“There are things that make us different, but there are also things that make us very similar, such as everyone in the team like joking with each other. We always try to make each other laugh and enjoy each other’s company.”
What does it mean to represent South Korea at Wolves?
“For me, it’s very meaningful. If I see Korean fans in Wolverhampton it makes me really proud and it’s an honour. I want to keep doing well for them and for our local fans.”
Daz
- Disability men’s first-team captain
What makes you, you?
“It took me many years to realise who I was, what I could do and what was my purpose, but the 2012 Paralympics was a big turning point in making disabilities normalised.”
How does football unite people?
“We all share the same passion, and that’s Wolves. I’m Wolverhampton born and bred, I’m always going to be here, and this club is the centre of that.”
Why do you love being a part of the pack?
“I love everything about the club. I’ve been a fan all my life and just seeing the people on this photo with me, I just get excited about it – even at my old age! Wolves is a community. It’s a family. That’s what it’s all about.”
Katie
- Women’s first-team defender
How does football unite people?
“Our love for football brings us all together. Without the club bringing us all together, I think it would be a different world that we live in, and I think football brings people together a lot more than it realises.”
What makes us all unique?
“Everyone has their own faiths, religions, personalities, and I think our differences make us come together more. If everyone was just the same, I think it would be a very boring place to be in.”
Why do you love being a part of the pack?
“I’ve had it engrained in me since I was a kid. My family, friends, everyone around me supports Wolves. I’ve come to many Wolves games as a kid and the atmosphere that you feel here during the 90 minutes is just really special.”
Mahesh & Kian
- Father and son who attend matches at Molineux and Young Wolves events together
What makes everyone unique?
“You see young and old, you see different nationalities, different races, religions and genders, and there is a lot more diversity in the stadium.”
What would it be like if everyone was the same?
“That would not be a good thing. We should embrace being individuals. Everyone going along the same route and doing the same thing would not work. You look around the ground now and you see different people from different backgrounds all coming together and enjoying the game and that’s what makes Wolves a great football team to support.”
Why do you love being a part of the pack?
“We’ve always loved Wolves. When the club started using the One Pack motto, it really made it for me as Wolves is a football team for the fans.”
