Wolves Foundation have recognised the contribution of Joe Jackson as their Community Captain for the Premier League’s ‘More Than A Game’ campaign – almost 40 years after he played for the Wolves’ first team.
Jackson, who has run the New Park Village Football Development programme in the heart of the city for over 25 years, has also linked up with Wolves Foundation on their Active through Football project, which aims to increase the number of football-based activities delivered across the community.
Chosen by the Foundation to receive the Community Captain accolade from the Premier League for his ‘commitment and contribution to the game and society’, Jackson was surprised by Wolves Head Coach Gary O’Neil who made the presentation at the Compton training ground.
Jackson explains: “When some people say something can’t be mended that’s music to my ears. I use the game to demonstrate how you can build communities.
“I want to see you have a better life. I know what you’ve got inside of you, you can’t see it but I can see it. So as far as I’m concerned it’s my job to pull it out.”
“I feel it’s like my mission, I do it because it needs to be done.”
Also present for the surprise was former Wolves winger Zeli Ismail, who first set out playing with NPV before joining the club’s Academy and representing the first team, and has now come full circle, back coaching with Jackson.
“I think New Park Village are a great advocate for keeping kids off the streets really and giving them a chance”, said Ismail. “I’m really grateful for what Joe did for me.
“It’s been 22 years and I’ve come back to him asking for help and he’s provided that again for me.”
Shrewsbury defender Chey Dunkley is another who also made it through to the professional game, but for so many others it has been a chance to get together, be part of a team and build their social skills.
NPV was first set up by Jackson back in 1998 due to a growing gang culture in Wolverhampton at the time, and provides both the opportunity for young players to enjoy their football but also make progress.
Jackson added: “There was a time where there were young men that were involved in gangs and that’s really where my football programme started from.”
“I was kept out of the prison system because of football. Football was the mechanism that allowed me to become somebody and all I’m doing is transferring that back into the community, because it worked for me.”
Jackson, who also had a very successful non-league career as player and manager, emerged at Wolves as a teenager, and made his one first team appearance as an 18-year-old in a defeat at Notts County in April 1984.
He is a fitting and hugely deserving recipient of the Community Captain accolade as part of this year’s ‘More than a Game’ campaign from the Premier League.
Head of Wolves Foundation, Will Clowes said: “Joe is such a worthy recipient of the Community Captain award. His passion for supporting our community shines through and he a fantastic figure to have in the city.
“Through his links with Wolves Foundation and the Academy, you can see the impact Joe is having on young people within New Park Village, but on adult health as well as part of Active Through Football project in partnership with the Football Foundation.”
Clubs across the Premier League, EFL and National League are naming a Community Captain, recognising key figures who make a difference in their area.
Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said: “During this campaign, we will be celebrating Community Captains connected to clubs across the football pyramid. They are the unsung heroes and people who go above and beyond the call of duty to benefit the lives of others, demonstrating that football is so much more than a game."
