Wolves players on work placement

THREE Warrington Wolves players have completed work placements at local companies to gain experience in the world of work.
First team fringe players James Saltonstall, Gene Ormsby and Ryan Shaw, who have also turned out for partner club Swinton this season, spent time at Total Steelwork and Fabrications Ltd, Touchline UK and the Coach House Brewery respectively.
Mike Lomax, of Total Steel, on the concept of the work placements said: “We like to support the academy players; we did it last year with James Laithwaite and it gives them an understanding of how lucky they are to be a Wolves player. To come into a workshop like ours and work in these conditions will hopefully give them the incentive to work hard at making the first team and to make career out of it. We will get on board each time to support these lads because it’s a credit to the town that we are bringing young lads through; that’s what the aim is, to have academy players coming through pushing for first team instead of bringing in overseas players. It is nice to see this development as it’s very important to the town.”
He added: “James did really well. We tried to make it as interesting as we could. It was an eye opener for him to see what the industry is all about – it is tough. He did well and was quite competent. Another big thing is fitting in with the team, the team ethic, as it’s not just relevant on the field it’s off it as well and he had that in him.”
The work placements are part of the club’s welfare programme. All young players who currently train with the first team will experience a full weeks work in a different vocation. The experience the players gain is invaluable for their personal development.
Nicola Fisher, director at Touchline, said on Gene’s time at the company. “He was fantastic, fitted in well and was very down to earth. It was a pleasure to have him here. We always like to support local teams and from our point of view it’s also good to have Warrington Wolves support giving us the opportunity to work with someone who is a professional sportsman. It brought it home to him, I think, and made him realise how hard it can be.”
Warrington Wolves Vice President Tony Gandy of Coach House Brewery said that it is a credit to the club that placements such as these have been arranged for the young players.
“It’s a good thing. A lot of them aren’t going to get any training other than in Rugby League so it’s good to see Warrington Wolves helping young players into industry and training.”
He added: “Ryan came completely raw to the brewing industry….He fitted in with all the lads and got on well with them.”
Warrington Wolves thanked all work-placement providers for accommodating the players.
Pictured (top to bottom): James Saltonstall, Gene Ormsby, Ryan Shaw