Wolves Women defender Ellie Wilson has reflected on being named as the club’s PFA Community Champion at the end of her first season and revealed: “I feel like I have been here for years!”
At the end of her first campaign at Molineux, Wilson, who also won the community award in her final season at previous club Sheffield United, admits she settled so quickly and engaged so much within the city that she already feels completely at home.
Along with men’s midfielder Tommy Doyle, Wilson was presented with the award for supporting the club’s official charity Wolves Foundation by club legends and Vice-Presidents Steve Bull and John Richards, following the final men’s home match of the season against Crystal Palace.
“It’s always important to give back and I’ve always wanted to do my bit for the local community whichever club I am at,” Wilson explains.
“I always feel more involved with a club when I am engaging with the community and to go out and help with what the Foundation has to offer is really important.
“It’s actually motivating and inspiring to meet new people and visit different parts of the city and see the different Foundation projects.
“The more you put into these events the more you get out, and I love getting involved when I attend any of the sessions - there’s certainly no standing on the side!”
Wilson’s role alongside her Wolves Women team-mates is also a key aspect highlighting the growth of the women’s game as a whole, giving younger girls far more accessibility to more potential role models to inspire their own journeys.
And it’s all done in the name of Wolves Women and Wolves Foundation.
“If you can see it, you can be it, and we didn’t have as many role models when we were younger,” she explains.
“It’s good for the young girls to get exposure to potential role models when watching on a matchday, but it’s also nice for us to have a positive impact beyond a matchday by getting involved in the community.
“We are always proud to put the kit on and wear the badge and we speak a lot in the dressing room about how - when we go out to play - we are representing the city.
“And alongside the football, it is just as important to engage with the city and the people.
“The badge is a powerful thing and shows the importance of the club in the city and anything we can do to positively reflect that and support the work of Wolves Foundation is really important.”
On the pitch, Wilson enjoyed an impressive first season in Wolves’ colours as the team finished fourth in the National Premier Division, as well as pushing Super League side Brighton close in the Fifth Round of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup, in front of a crowd of nearly 2,000 at the New Bucks Head.
The defender is already looking forward to returning to action next season and helping Wolves continue to progress and push for promotion to the second tier.
“I have only been here a season but it feels like a lot longer because I have settled so quickly and have loved he first year,” she says.
“I have loved working with everyone I have bumped into, in all different departments, and have really enjoyed my football.
“Hopefully we can kick on next time and build on this season and try and get Wolves into the Championship – that’s what we are all pushing for.”
