BARNSLEY Football Club’s disabled supporters have donated £1,500 to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
The money, raised through the sale of hot food and drinks sold at the stadium’s disability-friendly stand, was presented to the charity before last Saturday’s home fixture against Fleetwood Town by Joan Dawson.
Joan, a keen fan who’s been at almost every match for the past 30 years, said the supporters were inspired to raise money for Yorkshire Air Ambulance after the incident in which volunteer Steve Croft - who also attended the presentation - collapsed on the pitch minutes before a match last year and had to be airlifted to hospital.
Charlie Pearson, south regional fundraiser for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to Barnsley Football Club’s disabled supporters for their incredibly generous donation of £1,500 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. The money raised will help greatly towards the vital funding our service and help continue saving lives across Yorkshire.”
Fans may have also noticed Joan’s somewhat unconventional attire during the presentation.
Joan has worn the same red Christmas t-shirt since the start of Barnsley’s current unbeaten home run, which has seen the team yet to lose at Oakwell this season.
“Over the Christmas period I wore a top with a big pengiun on,” said Joan, 75, from Broadway.
“And the team started winning, and I started to think I had something to do with it.
“For us not to lose all season is amazing, and it’s all down to my shirt. It’s made the fans laugh and it’s been good fun.”
