EXCLUSIVE: Wolverhampton's in my heart, says Wolves owner Steve Morgan
He's taken the city to his heart and now Wolves owner Steve Morgan says he is 'giving something back' by championing new youth zone project, The Way.
The Redrow founder is investing the bulk of the capital to get the £5.5 million project off the ground, which from next January will welcome young people aged eight to 19 and up to 25 for those with disabilities. The goal is to get young people off the streets and cut anti-social behaviour.
In an exclusive interview, Steve Morgan reflects on his own boyhood playing footy on the tough streets of Toxteth and Garston in Merseyside.
He's grateful for having parents who raised him well. "I had a great mum and dad who instilled in me a sense of right and wrong."
The Way is being built on land between Little Brickklin Street adjoining the Penn Road island. Open 52 weeks a year, seven nights a week, activities will include sport, fitness, dance, arts, music, media and advice on how to write a CV.
With latest figures showing Wolverhampton has the fourth highest youth unemployment rate nationally, the hope is that the city's employers will turn to the youth zone for job recruitment.
And from digging sewers to becoming a multi-millionaire, Steve Morgan has this advice for young people in Wolverhampton. "You only get out of life what you put in."
"I probably rode my luck as a youngster.
Growing up on the gritty streets of inner city Liverpool, hecould have easily fallen in with the wrong crowd.
But unlike so many of his peers, he had a good upbringing which has stood him in good stead.
"My mum would be sure to give me a clip round the ear if I stepped out of line and that, probably above anything, kept me on the straight and narrow."
That's why he believes positive role models are so important in helping young people in Wolverhampton make the best of their future.
The Merseyside millionaire – who now affectionately regards himself as an 'adopted son' of the city – is spearheading The Way.
Costing £5.5 million to build, the bulk of which is being funded by the entrepreneur, the centre is due to open early next year and aims to get youngsters off the streets and provide them with a safe place to hang out.
The Way will welcome young people aged eight to 19 and up to 25 for those with disabilities.
Steve enthuses: "This is for people from every walk of life, every race, every religion and ability. They are all inclusive, everyone mixes in, it's a phenomenal atmosphere."
The property tycoon himself is living proof that there are routes out of underprivileged backgrounds. Reported in the Sunday Times Rich List to be worth £740m, the Redrow founder started out digging holes for a living.
"I started out digging sewers, it doesn't get much lower than that," he laughs. "I worked seven days a week and 14 hours a day. It doesn't matter what your background is, you won't get on unless you're prepared to work at it."
For the full interview, see the October issue of Wolverhampton Magazine out today.
