Championship footballers raise £9,000 for Help for Heroes

Championship footballers from Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion have helped to raise more than £9,000 for the Help for Heroes charity by taking part in an online shirt auction.

Following last month’s Coca Cola Championship fixture between the two teams, players signed their shirts before they were put under ebay’s virtual hammer.

Mark Jenkins, chief executive of West Bromwich Albion, says: "We are delighted the shirts we donated have raised so much money for such a vitally important charity."

It was Crystal Palace player Darren Ambrose’s name on the shirt that sold for the most – £401.76 – while four others went under the hammer for more than £300.

Help for Heroes was named as the official charity partner of The Football League in September 2009, after more than 25,000 voted in an online poll.

The charity provides support to members of the armed forces who have been injured during conflict.

Posted by Simon Williams