TWO special football matches dedicated to the memory of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes have raised £10,000 for the NSPCC.
The games helped shine a light on child safeguarding and the need for everyone to play their part when tackling child abuse.
The Birmingham City men’s and women’s matches in aid of the NSPCC are an annual feature in the club’s calendar and included a big screen tribute to Arthur and a minute’s applause to celebrate his life during the sixth minute.
The CEO of the NSPCC, Sir Peter Wanless, attended the memorial match on Saturday January 21st between Birmingham City and Preston North End.
Birmingham’s City’s players wore a one-off kit featuring an ‘Arthur 6’ emblem in the centre which has been on sale alongside other items to raise money for the NSPCC.
Sir Peter Wanless said: “Birmingham City, like everyone who heard about the tragic death of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, were determined to do something to unite the community in Solihull and the West Midlands, and that’s how the special matchdays came about.
“The NSPCC is hugely grateful to the club for organising the events, and for everything they are doing in aid of the NSPCC, including donating all the profits made from the limited-edition shirt which will support the NSPCC’s work in Birmingham and across the UK to help keep children safer.”
Amanda Synnott, community fundraising manager for the West Midlands, said: “The NSPCC is a national charity with a local impact, and sporting events like football matches have real power to reach out to local communities and change lives.
“Events like the Arthur memorial matches are a great opportunity to raise the issue of child protection, awareness of the NSPCC and our work, and to enforce the message that safeguarding is everyone’s duty and responsibility.”
