Olympian Tessa Sanderson so proud to see nephew Dion Sanderson flying the family flag with Wolves

Retired javelin thrower and heptathlete Tessa, 63, grew up in Wolverhampton and was delighted to see her 19-year-old nephew make his competitive debut for their home town club in the 2-1 Carabao Cup defeat at Aston Villa on Wednesday.

Dion featured for Nuno Espirito Santo’s first team on their pre-season tour of China in June.

But he has had to wait to make his official first team bow with Tessa celebrating her nephew’s big night by sharing a throwback picture.

The six-time Olympian, who won gold in the javelin at the 1984 Olympics, took to Twitter to share a picture of herself kitted out in the China shirt with Dion.

She also shared a photo of her mum Murphy, Dion’s dad Eric and her other brother Danny celebrating the big moment by posing in their own replica shirts with the family name on the back.

And Tessa says it was a proud moment for the whole family.

She said: “We are just very, very proud, not just me, the whole family.

“The thing is when he comes up now and then to London we just have family time and mess about.

“I said I haven’t got a Wolves shirt, so let’s just mess about and take some photos.

“He brought me the one he wore in China.

“We were just messing about and I love it.

“It was great, my mum in Wolverhampton his dad, and my other brother Danny copied me.

“To see someone in the family progressing like this and come in the limelight with something that he loves is a really exciting time for him and the family.

“He could not have got to this point without the support of his dad (Eric) and his mum (Trudy).

“I’ve watched him grow up from a nipper to someone who is now six-foot-six!

“He was towering over me when he came to London, we were eating food, talking gibberish, we tweet all the time and it is great.

“He has got so much talent and from day one we have been hoping that he would get to this position. As he has progressed he has never really changed as a lad in his personality but he has got where he has always wanted to be.”

And Tessa hopes she can see wing-back Dion featuring for the first team when she returns to Molineux with her husband Densign White at some point in the future.

She said: “We used to go to Molineux in the Sir Jack Hayward and Rachel Heyhoe days. I’ve been back for a few presentations in the last few years but I’m dying to see a game! Me and my husband are avid followers but we just don’t get the chance to get there when there is a game on.

“But now we are hoping to get there and hopefully see Dion play.

“Not just Dion but the whole team!

“My Twitter is full of Wolves followers and that is good because it keeps the language going too!

“The guys are doing great.

“When they went down I was so gutted but now they are back up there and with a big kick! It is a great club and we are all so proud to see Dion play.”