Bradford City favourite raffles off prized shirts for charity

Former Bradford City striker Billy Clarke has raised more than £3,300 for Bradford Hospitals’ Charity by raffling off two much-loved football shirts.

Billy, who scored 25 goals in 112 appearances for City in two spells in 2014-2017, and on loan last year, raffled two shirts from the Bantams’ FA Cup 4-2 giant-killing win at Chelsea in 2015.

He raised a total of £6,620 and split the proceeds between Bradford Hospitals’ Charity (the official NHS charity partner of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust) and the Trussell Trust.

The winner of the shirts was announced via Billy’s social media channels as XXX.

One of the shirts is his claret and amber City one and the other was worn by then Chelsea player, Cesc Fabregas, who gave it to him.

Billy, who still lives in Bradford district, said: “The NHS staff are the backbone of this country at the moment and this is just my small contribution to helping them.

“It’s nice to have memorabilia, and I did have plans to hang the shirts on my wall, but I have the memories in my head. I don’t need to look at them to remember what the team achieved that day.”

Billy added that he had undergone an operation at Bradford Royal Infirmary in the past and that he had nothing but praise for the all the doctors and nurses. He also visited the hospitals’ children’s wards at Christmas on three occasions, giving him the opportunity to see first-hand the amazing care patients receive.

“The online raffle was worth it to raise even the smallest amount, but it has far exceeded my expectations,” he said. “I know Bradford well and I still live in the area, so it means a lot to help in any way I can.”

Hayley Collis, Head of Fundraising for Bradford Hospitals’ Charity, said: “This is an incredibly kind gesture, as we know just how much these football shirts mean to Billy.

“Thank you to Billy for thinking of our NHS and those most in need in our city during these difficult times. Thank you also to everyone who entered the raffle. I hope the shirts will take pride of place on someone’s wall, so they too can remember the amazing achievement of the Bradford City team back in 2015.”

The money raised by Billy will go to Bradford Hospitals’ Charity’s NHS Hospital Heroes appeal, which is funding items such as comfort packs for staff, furniture and items for staff ‘wobble rooms’, appliances to help staff heat up food, as well as a number of other items and projects which enhance treatment and care.

Bradford Hospitals’ Charity is also a member of NHS Charities Together, which has benefited from the incredible fundraising of Captain Tom Moore.

You can find out more about the Bradford Hospitals’ Charity NHS Hospital Heroes appeal at https://bradfordhospitalscharity.org/nhshospitalheroes.