Clubs dig deep to aid tragic trio auction

3:40pm Monday 3rd November 2008

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City have been amazed with the way other clubs have responded to the recent motorway death of three Bradford football fans.

The club appealed for auction items to raise money for the families of brothers Tony and Jonathan Worby and Gareth Rhodes, who died last month in a crash on the M1 on their way back from watching England at Wembley.

City secretary Jon Pollard has been swamped by signed memorabilia from clubs around the country, including an autographed England shirt.

The souvenirs are being auctioned on ebay and, with a week to go, pledges for the articles put up on offer have reached the £800 mark.

Forty different items are currently available to bid for, with more being added in the next few days. Saturday’s visitors Barnet left a signed ball, while Ipswich and Tranmere have also added to the souvenirs being donated.

A signed replica shirt from Newcastle is among the memorabilia heading to Valley Parade.

Pollard said: “It has been a fantastic response. Football really rallies round at times of tragedy like this.”

Stuart McCall, Wayne Jacobs and David Wetherall (pictured) will dust off their boots to play in a fund-raising game on Sunday at Thackley FC (3pm).

Youth coach Chris Casper and former favourite Jamie Lawrence are also in the line-up to face Ravenscliffe Sunday Reserves, the club connected with the three men who died.

Programmes will be available, including ‘lucky’ ones to win City souvenirs.