Shropshire Star

Wolves fans unite to create carnival atmosphere

It is fan travel, but with a difference. Punjabi Wolves Supporters and Wolves on Tour have linked up to provide a 'carnival atmosphere' on away days.

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Wolves fans (AMA/Sam Bagnall)

With the success of Nuno Espirito Santo's charges this season, sitting at the top of the Championship, various groups are putting on coaches to games.

Tatter Travels ran its largest-sever operation for the Carabao Cup loss at Manchester City earlier this season, providing eight coaches.

But the Punjabi Wolves Supporters and Wolves on Tour partnership is taking a different approach. Their focus is on quality, not quantity.

Andy Sahota, who helped set up Punjabi Wolves back in 2007, said: "There's 50 of us, we don't want to do quantity – we want to do quality.

"We want to keep the numbers low, but everybody that comes with us has a good time.

"We want to be like a family, at the end of the day.

"The people on the coach, we want to know them all. We welcome everybody."

Wolves fans (AMA/Sam Bagnall)

One of the most popular Wolves supporters groups, Punjabi Wolves have made waves this season with their drum-led celebrations after games.

Wolves on Tour only started last campaign, but have gained a good following in that short time.

Trips to Man City in October and Reading in November were hugely successful, as was the short journey to Birmingham last month.

"What we are trying to achieve is a carnival atmosphere," Sahota explained.

"We want to try to create that, every game we go to.

"We want people from all different backgrounds to get together and have a good time.

"Going forward, that's what we are trying to do – we are trying to make it different from what other people are doing.

"We want to theme them and have a good time, a carnival. A good time, basically."

Wolves fans (AMA/Sam Bagnall)

Wolves on Tour is run by Ash Wilde. The relationship between his group and Punjabi Wolves started with the game at Nottingham Forest in September, which Nuno's men won 2-1.

Sahota added: "Our first travel was to Sunderland in 2007 and all we've wanted is people from all different backgrounds to have a good time – it doesn't matter where you are from.

"It's about enjoying yourself and partying.

"Ash got in touch with us and it's helped both parties, really – they've got the following, we've got the vibes and the quality. It works, hand in hand."

Wilde insists Wolves on Tour came about following the buzz around a Facebook page he set up, called Wolverhampton Wanderers FC News and Chat.

On the partnership with Punjabi Wolves, he said: "It's a great combination, which started Nottingham Forest away.

"We had been communicating since last season and I knew about the buzz, everything they bring to the away travel.

Punjabi Wolves

"Notts Forest, we were both talking and said 'let's link up and see how it goes'.

"Since then, we have done Sheffield United, Man City which was brilliant and Reading with themed travel – a carnival atmosphere.

"It's just brilliant and it's about being a family and having fun.

"We started at the tail end of last season, in January, so we are quite new to the game but it's good fun.

"We basically started out from out Facebook page – Wolverhampton Wanderers FC News and Chat – and went on from there.

"We thought we'd have a go at the travelling, and it's good fun."

For Sahota and Wilde, the aim for any away match is to make it enjoyable and memorable for anybody who decides to travel with them.

Punjabi Wolves

And Wilde recognises that is a lot easier to do when Wolves are playing at a very high level, as they have been for the vast majority of this term.

"When the team is playing well, everyone wants to go – there is a good vibe," he added.

"The football is the best I have seen in my lifetime – it's just unreal.

"There is a buzz about everyone, away games sell out in seconds. It's fantastic."

For more information on how to get involved, visit wolvesontour.co.uk