Heartwarming footage shows Wolves stars making side’s Under 8s day by playing training match against them

Wolves’ Under-8s stars of the future were given a day to remember when they participated in a training match against the first team.

The aspiring young players from the academy were invited to the first-team facility at the Wolves training base, Compton Park.

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Wolves’ young stars of the future were given a huge surprise
They were greeted by first-team player Hugo Bueno and watched the first team in action.

Manager Gary O’Neil then invited the group onto the training pitch and set up a five-a-side match against them.

The players involved were Max Kilman, Jose Sa, Matheus Cunha, Pablo Sarabia, and Pedro Neto.

Wolves first-team players posed for photos, and O’Neil took on refeering duties.

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Telling the kids ‘we’re playing against the big boys’ the Wolves boss then explained his players were only allowed one touch, and they had to walk.

Academy officer Calvin Smith revealed the youngsters were unaware they would line up against the senior side.

“They didn’t know they were going,” he told the club’s official website.

“We didn’t tell them until the end of our training session so when I sat them down to say they were going to meet the first-team, they couldn’t believe it.

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The kids were absolutely buzzing as the flooded onto the pitchCredit: @wolves

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They then battled against their heroes and even got a goalCredit: @wolves
“They wanted to know who they were meeting, who was going to be there – is Gary O’Neil there, is [Matheus] Cunha there? As soon as I told them they couldn’t wait to get over there and interact with their idols.

“The players were like big kids which was fantastic for our boys because that’s what they want.

“They were sliding around the pitch, screaming when they scored, celebrating when the younger ones scored and having chats with them during the game.

“The interactions were fantastic and Gary O’Neil himself called the boys down and said they were going to be playing against the big kids which is great because it just makes it all relatable.

“Gary was high-fiving all of the boys and made everyone feel really comfortable. Matt Hobbs also introduced himself to everyone and shook their hand, again reiterating that ‘one pack’ mentality from the youngest players to the sporting director.”