Grateful Sharp’s message to fans for fund-raising
SHEFFIELD United captain Billy Sharp has recorded a heartfelt message thanking Nottingham Forest fans for raising over £16,000 for his nominated charity, Martin House Children’s Hospice.
Sharp was assaulted by a Forest supporter in the aftermath of their Championship play-off, second leg penalty shootout at the City Ground. That sparked Reds fan Zoe Potts to start crowdfunding for the former Forest player “to show condemnation”.
The original target was £500 but has since exceeded by more than 3000%, with more than 1,000 individual donations being received.
Sharp has publically thanked Zoe and everyone who has been involved in the fundraising for Martin House, as well as sharing how the charity helped his family through the death of their two-day-old son Luey Jacob due to gastroschisis in October 2011.
The Blades skipper tweeted: “From the bottom of mine & my family’s heart, THANK YOU” and attached a minute-long video message. The transcript in full is as follows:
“Hi Zoe, I hope you’re well,” Sharp said. “I just want to thank you and everybody who’s donated to Martin House for one mindless idiot causing me a little harm to my face. It was a very nice gesture to raise some money for a very good cause and a cause that’s close to mine and Jade and my family’s heart.
“So, again, to Zoe and everybody who’s helped set it up and everybody who’s donated, we just want to say thank you. It will go a long way for Martin House, what is an incredible place and helped us through the tragedy of losing our son.
“So, again, from me and Jade, thank you very much. Wish Forest all the best for the new season in the Premier League and, hopefully, we can do the business this year and, hopefully, join them next year. Thanks again, from everybody in my family.”
COVENTRY City boss Mark Robins has had a “frank conversation” with former Nottingham Forest striker Tyler Walker about his Sky Blues’ future.
The 25-year-old forward joined Coventry back in August 2020 having scored only seven goals from 45 first-team appearances.
Having become frustrated over his lack of game time at the CBS Arena, Walker spent the second half of last season on loan with League One outfit Portsmouth.
Walker managed only one goal in 15 appearances for Pompey, however, as he slipped down the pecking order and out of favour.
There is one year left on his current deal and speculation is mounting over what the former Forest man’s future at Coventry City looks like.
Asked about Walker’s situation, manager Robins told Coventrylive: “I have had a meeting with Tyler because nothing has changed.
“He’s a goal scorer and you don’t give goal scorers away. He’s been to Portsmouth and it didn’t go how he hoped it would have done, but also what it’s done is, he’s come back and it’s a case of, ‘right, OK,’ and we had a conversation on the back of, let’s see where we’re at in pre-season.
“We’ll have a look and see where you’re at. He’s going to train, he’s going to work hard, which I think he has already done this summer anyway, and he will come back and we will just wipe the slate clean and see where he is. So we’ll go from there. I don’t think I can say fairer than that with anybody.”
Asked if he’s been impressed by his attitude and determination to get back to his best form, he said: “He’s under no illusions as to where he stands.
“Ultimately it’s down to the players and Tyler’s no different. We had a frank conversation and spoke about the way things were and how they have gone, both for him and for us as a club with him, and what was expected and what we would do.
“And we drew a line under last season and said let’s see where we’re at in pre-season, so I can’t say fairer than that. People get opportunities and it’s what they do with those opportunities.”