Wolves fan left wheelchair-bound after hit by car meets players for 18th birthday
A long-time Wolves fan topped off a weekend of football with the best birthday present he could think of - a victory at Molineux.
Jack Ball-Smith, who turned 18 yesterday, has been in a wheelchair since he was knocked down by a car 10 years ago.
Football is a big part of Jack and his family's life, and the teenager got an early birthday present on Saturday when he mingled with his favourite players during training.
The Penn Hall School student is a bit of a whizz at the game himself, playing wheelchair football in both the West Midlands Regional League and the North West Regional League.
The players use fast electric wheelchairs with a bumper on the front and back of the chair to bash the ball, with four players on each team.
His father, Andy Ball, said his son's balance was not good, and while he could walk short distances he had to be helped.
He added: "He just loves being able to take part in something. Being in a wheelchair he is very limited, but wheelchair football is brilliant, he can still play."
The visit to Wolves training was really good, he said, and Jack had really enjoyed it.
Wolves Vice President Baroness Rachael Heyhoe Flint, who arranged the visit for Jack, has been friends with the family since Jack attended a Wolves game in Brighton in 2005, when he was in Tadworth Court Rehabilitation Centre recovering from his accident, which happened outside Aqueduct Primary, Telford,
She said: "Jack has very much become a member of the Wolves family. He was introduced to wheelchair football by Wolves in the Community programme and now plays in Telford.
"He is a great ambassador for youngsters with disabilities and we are very proud he is such a keen Wolves fan with his father Andy and mother Jo, who sit in the Billy Wright Family Enclosure."
Everyone at Wolves wished him a very happy birthday, she said, and had already been told by Jack what the best present would be - three points for Wolves against Brentford.
The family were in their usual spot for the game, and were celebrating as the home team beat the visitors 2-1, fulfilling Jack's birthday wish.
