Shrewsbury Town's Poppy Appeal shirts up for auction
Special shirts worn by Shrewsbury Town players in support of the Poppy Appeal are going up for auction to raise funds for the Royal British Legion.
Town players took to the field in the shirts featuring the distinctive poppy motif for the 2-0 win over Sheffield United at the Greenhous Meadow earlier this month.
Each player involved against the Blades has signed their own shirt and they are ready to be auctioned off to raise funds for the Poppy Appeal.
The shirts include the one worn by Joe Jacobson as he scored a memorable goal from about 30 yards out in the game.
Martin James, head of community development at Shrewsbury Town, said: "The shirts would make a special present for a supporter this Christmas.
"We are suggesting a minimum bid of £25 for any shirt and the highest bid then wins that specific shirt.
"The bidding will be open for two weeks, closing on Thursday, December 12.
"In the event of a tie in bidding, I will contact the bidders to see who offers the most."
The players whose signed shirts are available are Chris Weale, Joe Jacobson, Tamika Mkandawire, Connor Goldson, Dave Winfield, Ryan Woods, Adam Reach, Nicky Wroe, Aaron Wildig, Liam McAlinden, Tom Bradshaw, Luke Summerfield, Jon Taylor, Darren Jones, Dave McAllister and Paul Parry.
The Sheffield United match on November 2 had a number of special touches to support the Poppy Appeal.
The match ball was delivered by an RAF Shawbury helicopter where it was met by Corporal Ricky Furgusson MC, from Telford, and Rifleman Ben Taylor, from Shrewsbury.
Corporal Furgusson, of the 4th Battalion The Rifles, lost both legs, an eye and fingers on both hands in a bomb blast in Afghanistan in January 2010.
He was awarded the Military Cross, which is bestowed for "an act or acts of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy", for going to the aid of wounded soldiers injured by improvised explosive devices four times.
Rifleman Taylor was awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal last month for a heroic rescue of his colleagues in Afghanistan. He was on his first operational tour in the war-torn country when he found himself rushing to save his stricken colleagues from a submerged vehicle.
Poppy Appeal collectors around the ground managed to collect about £700 on the day from supporters.
People can submit bids to Mr James, with details of whose shirt they want. He can be contacted via e-mail at martin.james@shrews burytown.co.uk or by calling (01743) 289177 extension 258.
Sealed bids can also be dropped off at the reception at the ground.
