Behind the Scenes of Wolves' Kitman: A Family Affair
At Molineux, Sean Ruiz's office is a shrine to his craft, with rows upon rows of gleaming gold shirts, printing machines, and pigeonholes filled with kit, badges, lettering, and numbering. It's a space that exudes warmth and camaraderie, where Ruiz feels at home, surrounded by the people he considers family.
As the head of kit for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Ruiz is responsible for ensuring that every player has a perfect match-day outfit, complete with customized numbers, colors, and logos. His team, which includes assistants Barry Piper and part-time staff Ian Round and Steve Hooper, work tirelessly to prepare for each game, often under tight deadlines.
Ruiz's day begins long before kick-off, when he meets with Piper to load up their van with shirts, shorts, gloves, coats, and other essentials. The team then arrives at the stadium, where Ruiz expertly hangs the shirts in formation order, while Piper sets up the digital screens above each player's station.
As the players take to the pitch, Ruiz is on hand to make any last-minute adjustments, ensuring that every detail is just right. He's also responsible for keeping track of the team's kits, which requires an incredible amount of memory and attention to detail. "I can name each player, number, size, and shirt preference from 1 to 38," Ruiz says with a laugh.
But it's not all about the football – Ruiz is also involved in non-footballing matters, offering guidance on everything from family problems to personal issues. He's been known to pop into the training-ground office door to chat with players like Yerson Mosquera, who appreciates his counsel and camaraderie.
Ruiz's career path has taken an unexpected turn, from assisting his dad at the MetroStars (now the Red Bulls) to becoming a full-blown kit guy. His experience in New York was marked by a notable error – he couldn't remember one of the players' numbers! Thankfully, he had a contact who sorted it out for him.
As matchdays bring excitement and chaos, Ruiz's team is on hand to keep everything running smoothly. From setting up the substitutions board to ensuring that Hwang Hee-chan gets his trainers, they're the behind-the-scenes heroes who make it all happen.
Despite the demands of the job, Ruiz wouldn't have it any other way. "Matchdays are the best days," Piper says, as he flits around arranging bench coats. For Ruiz, it's a chance to be in the service business, figuring things out as he goes along. As he put it, when he was asked about his previous experience: "I had no idea what I was doing... But you can't say no in a new place, can you?"
At Molineux, Sean Ruiz's office is a shrine to his craft, with rows upon rows of gleaming gold shirts, printing machines, and pigeonholes filled with kit, badges, lettering, and numbering. It's a space that exudes warmth and camaraderie, where Ruiz feels at home, surrounded by the people he considers family.
As the head of kit for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Ruiz is responsible for ensuring that every player has a perfect match-day outfit, complete with customized numbers, colors, and logos. His team, which includes assistants Barry Piper and part-time staff Ian Round and Steve Hooper, work tirelessly to prepare for each game, often under tight deadlines.
Ruiz's day begins long before kick-off, when he meets with Piper to load up their van with shirts, shorts, gloves, coats, and other essentials. The team then arrives at the stadium, where Ruiz expertly hangs the shirts in formation order, while Piper sets up the digital screens above each player's station.
As the players take to the pitch, Ruiz is on hand to make any last-minute adjustments, ensuring that every detail is just right. He's also responsible for keeping track of the team's kits, which requires an incredible amount of memory and attention to detail. "I can name each player, number, size, and shirt preference from 1 to 38," Ruiz says with a laugh.
But it's not all about the football – Ruiz is also involved in non-footballing matters, offering guidance on everything from family problems to personal issues. He's been known to pop into the training-ground office door to chat with players like Yerson Mosquera, who appreciates his counsel and camaraderie.
Ruiz's career path has taken an unexpected turn, from assisting his dad at the MetroStars (now the Red Bulls) to becoming a full-blown kit guy. His experience in New York was marked by a notable error – he couldn't remember one of the players' numbers! Thankfully, he had a contact who sorted it out for him.
As matchdays bring excitement and chaos, Ruiz's team is on hand to keep everything running smoothly. From setting up the substitutions board to ensuring that Hwang Hee-chan gets his trainers, they're the behind-the-scenes heroes who make it all happen.
Despite the demands of the job, Ruiz wouldn't have it any other way. "Matchdays are the best days," Piper says, as he flits around arranging bench coats. For Ruiz, it's a chance to be in the service business, figuring things out as he goes along. As he put it, when he was asked about his previous experience: "I had no idea what I was doing... But you can't say no in a new place, can you?"
. Like, can you imagine having to remember all those player numbers and details? It's crazy! I'm not even a huge football fan, but Ruiz's story just makes me wanna cheer for him 
. And it's so cool that he's more than just a kit guy - he's like a player coach, too 
. The fact that he can name every single player, number, and size from 1 to 38 is just insane 
. He must be super organized and focused 
. I love how his team works together as a family, it's like they're all in this together 
. And Ruiz's attitude? 
"Matchdays are the best days" - totally agree with him! There's something special about being part of a team and making everything run smoothly 
.
[image of a smiling kitman with a giant smile and a cape]
Ruiz's life is like a matchday kit - it's all about the details! 
"I can name each player, number, size, and shirt preference from 1 to 38"... Talk about a master of numbers! 
. He's not just about kit, he's got a heart and cares for the players like they're family 
. It's amazing how he's built such a strong team with Barry Piper and co 
. Ruiz's humility is inspiring too - from messing up in NYC to owning it and learning from it 
I cant even handle how much I LOVE Sean Ruiz, the kit man for Wolves!!! 
his dedication to his craft is insane! I mean, who else gets to make sure every player has the perfect match-day outfit? 
and its not just about the kits, he's like a therapist too! 
️⚨️ i mean have u seen the way he gets all those numbers and colors just right?? it's like magic, fam 
but what really gets me is how much of a family man he is. like, he's not just about the football, he's also got players' backs when they need emotional support 
for keeping wolverhampton wanderers' kits in check on matchdays! he must be so stressed out but still manages to keep everything running smoothly 
. i also love how he's like a dad figure to the players, offering guidance and support when they need it 
. He's got this massive office at Molineux that's basically a shrine to all things football kits 
. I mean, who needs a trophy case when you've got rows of shiny gold shirts and printing machines? 
anyway, can't wait for the next matchday, because you know Ruiz and his team are gonna make it happen!!! 
. i mean, who needs that much info about every single player? 
. No wonder he's always saying "I can name each player..." 
Get it together, Ruiz! 
️
