A FORMER Bradford City star returned to make a donation from his football academy to one of the district’s hospitals.

Filipe Morais, 31, gave funds to the 60-bed children and young person’s unit at Bradford Royal Infirmary following the first year of his academy set-up.

The £500 donation was proceeds from his MPro Football Academy, now based in Bradford, for children aged between five and 14.

Winger Mr Morais made 54 appearances, scoring five goals, for the Bantams between 2014 and February this year.

He then re-joined former City manager Phil Parkinson at Bolton Wanderers, who now play in the Championship, after his Bantams contract was cancelled by mutual agreement.

Mr Morais, who made his return trip to the hospital unit yesterday, said he wanted to give something back, after visiting it at Christmas during his spell at City, and now plans to make future donations. He said: “I am really proud to do this. It’s fantastic to give them the money.

“I am blown away by the unit. It was something that touched me. I wanted to be involved with it in some respect. I remember visiting it before when I played for City. It is four times bigger now.”

Hayley Collis, head of fundraising for Bradford Hospitals Children’s Charity, said: “It is always wonderful that anyone with any celebrity in our community donates to us, but to continue that relationship after he has left the city is brilliant.

“Filipe’s offer shows he wants to be part of the legacy of the unit.”