Wolves enjoy prison break

WARRINGTON Wolves first team squad broke away from their regular training regime and were put through their paces in a different environment when they visited Thorn Cross prison at Appleton Thorn.
The team listened to a presentation from a number of prisoners and the prison officer before a morning of gym, skills and field work with players and prisoners training alongside each other.
A former prisoner opened up to the players explaining his situation and how he has now managed to turn his life around. The players also interacted well asking questions throughout the session.
This experience took the players out of their comfort zone and tested them in a different environment.
Wolves’ football manager Karl Fitzpatrick said: “The visit was very productive in many ways. The day started off with a former prisoner, who was also an ex-professional Rugby League player, speaking to the players on how easy it can be to go off the tracks and to ruin not only your career but your lives and that of others. The players then had a mixed session with the inmates and interacted fantastically with each other. Some of the inmates have just made bad decisions in their lives and sport may be a vehicle to enable them to get straightened out.”
He added: “The visit enabled our players to witness how important it is to be good role models and how easily things can turn bad if they make poor decisions. I would like to thank Phil Jameson and the other staff at Thorn Cross for allowing the visit and the education it provided for the players.”
Phil Jameson, PE Officer at Thorn Cross, said: “We already have close links with the club and are keen to keep up a strong, ongoing relationship. This session kicks on from the community work many of our lads are already doing with the Wolves Foundation and was a great experience for those interested in sport and Rugby League. This activity opened up a platform for the prisoners to develop social skills and mix with others. Not all those here at Thorn Cross are bad people and are keen to turn their lives around, these opportunities help to put them on the right track. We’d like to pass on a massive thank you to Warrington Wolves and look forward to working them more in the future.”
Wolves up-and-coming prop Glenn Riley, 19, took a lot away from the visit.“I feel the young players in particular will have benefitted from this training experience as we can understand and relate to many of the situations they talked to us about. Many aren’t bad people, they have just had some bad fortune. We can take a lot from listening to those who have done time and turned their life around. The lads dug in and enjoyed it as much as we did as players. These sessions away from the day-to-day training routine are good for the team as it brings you closer in a different environment.”