Owls shot-stopper Joe Wildsmith visited the Wednesday training ground this week to help with a unique goalkeeper camp for aspiring young custodians.
The native Sheffielder cut short his off-season time to attend the session, which runs alongside the regular Owls Soccer Camps.
Wildsmith joined the club’s community coaches to give some goalkeeping tips, as well as taking part in a Q&A with the next generation of local goalkeepers.
Wildsmith said: “It was good fun!
“About 40 goalkeepers turned up so obviously it’s a great turnout and it’s good for all of them to come in and have a bit of fun while they are off school.
“It’s a pleasure to come down and offer some advice and help, and to have a laugh with the kids.
“In a city where there are two teams there’s a lot of kids who love football, and their seasons have come to an end just like mine and they want to play all throughout the year, so two days out of my summer is not a burden for me at all, it’s a pleasure.”
Wildsmith spent the majority of last season between the sticks for the Owls, and having been brought up through the club’s academy, he knows just what it is like to be a youngster at Wednesday’s Soccer Camps.
He added: “Even when I was really young my mum and dad brought me down to a couple of the camps and I remember being in the dome with loads of other kids.
“I’m happy to come and help and show my face to these kids who are having fun at the training ground.
“It’s not out of any of their hands to get playing at a really good level, being in and around the club can help make that happen.
“They could move on to a good level and possibly even end up at Wednesday, so it benefits the club as well as it benefits the players to keep an eye out for young talent.
“I just want to give something back because the club has helped me a lot over the years, so to go down and help out is not a problem for me at all.“