For the Wolves Disability adults team, overseen by Wolves Foundation, winning in the penalty shootout against Stoke City at the weekend more than made up for being on the losing side in the final of a pre-season tournament played at Norwich last summer.
It was a fitting end to another great afternoon at the home of the English national team which followed on from Wolves Disability Under-16s recently collecting silverware by winning their league.
There are two adult disability teams – the gold team and the black team – and both performed well in a tournament also involving teams from Stoke, Stafford Town, Cannock United and Leek Town.
“After a season where the lads have been a bit disappointed with their results and feel they haven’t performed to the best of their ability, for the gold team to get through to the final of the Staffordshire Ability Counts League Cup was fantastic,” says team coach and Wolves Foundation’s inclusion lead Gavin Jones.
“To finish off with a win was even better.
“Our gold and black teams were split into two separate groups and the black team also did well, drawing against Cannock who are the league champions and only missing out on the final by a point.
“The gold team got through to face Stoke in the final which finished 0-0 during which we hit the post twice and defended well at the other end.
“Then it went to penalties, and keeper Joe Cope saved the first before Ethan stepped up and found the net which was a moment of redemption after the tournament last summer.
“Stoke missed again and that gave the chance for Alfie Tattersall to step up and score to seal victory and make sure we could bring the cup home!”
There was plenty of emotion on show during the celebrations including from proud skipper Darren James, who told Gavin he had ‘waited a long time for this’.
“It’s been a tough couple of years with the pandemic and this was our first season back in the league, so it was a special moment to win the cup,” added Gavin.
“The lads all enjoyed it, as did we as coaches, especially with getting the opportunity to play – and win – at St George’s Park.”
Gavin was supported with the coaching by Inclusion & Cohesion Officer Carl Ackasovs whilst Inclusion & Cohesion Coach Mark Bromley was in the playing squad for the gold team.
Wolves Disability Under-16s and Under-12s, part of the overall set-up which is sponsored by Energy Angels, also have a chance to aim for glory with their cup competitions taking place at St George’s Park on April 24th.
