Signed Leeds United shirt to be auctioned for Leeds West Hunslet

A signed football shirt worn by a Leeds United player during a Remembrance Day match is to be auctioned off to raise money for Leeds West Hunslet Salvation Army to help support vulnerable people in the community. 

Donated by Leeds United Football Club, the shirt was worn, and has been signed by, midfielder Brenden Aaronson, who scored during the 2-1 win against West Ham last October in the match that was played closest to Remembrance Sunday. 

Any money raised from the auction will go towards supporting the vital work the church and charity in Hunslet Hall Road does within the community, which is a stone’s throw from Leeds United’s stadium Elland Road. 

Peter Lockwood, known as Stix, a former Leeds United player liaison officer and now matchday ambassador for the club chose The Salvation Army to donate to. 

Stix said: “This is a signed poppy shirt, which was worn by midfielder Brenden Aaronson during the nearest home game to Remembrance Sunday, which last year was against West Ham. 

“What the club does every year is to make sure that all of the player shirts go to charities so they can then raise their own money to help the community. As matchday ambassador I’m able to give out a few to charities that mean a lot to me. This includes military charities and of course The Salvation Army. 

“The military is close to my heart and I know how much support The Salvation Army provided for the Armed Forces. It breaks my heart that there are ex-servicemen still living on the streets, but I know The Salvation Army are there supporting them.

“They do a sterling job. We always think about these charities at Christmas time when you see them on the television, but of course they work all year round looking after veterans and people who are homeless or are struggling.

“It’s really important to the Club that this money goes into helping the local community.” 

Leeds West Hunslet Salvation Army runs a number of activities throughout the week including lunch club on a Tuesday, a food bank on Wednesday between 10am and 12pm, and a warm space on the last Thursday of the month. The money raised from the sale of the shirt will go towards supporting the food bank, which provides food parcels to some of the most vulnerable people in the area. 

Major Eric Heerlien, who leads Leeds West Hunslet, said: “To have the Club offer support like this is amazing. The stadium is nearby and it means a lot that they reach out to help because there is a lot of need here. 

“This money will be used to supply our food bank, which has been providing vital support to vulnerable people for many years. We provide parcels to people who are sleeping rough or are in insecure housing, or families that are working but are simply unable to make ends meet due to the high cost of living.” 

The auction will go live on Wednesday 8 April and will run until Tuesday 14 April.