ONE of Doncaster’s most iconic pieces of sporting memorabilia went to a very familiar home at last night’s LJS Foundation dinner.
Rovers legend Alick Jeffrey’s England Under 23 cap - offered up for auction by John Ryan - fetched £1,300 at the hugely successful event at the Keepmoat Stadium.
And the buyer only happened to be a certain Ian Snodin - but only after the former Belle Vue favourite beat Willie McKay to land the treasured item.
Event organisers said the evening stood to raise well over £10,000 for the LJS Foundation, the charity formed by ex-Rovers favourite Billy Sharp and his partner Jade Fair in memory of their son Luey.
Last night’s dinner was supported brilliantly by the football community, with a host of current and former Doncaster players among the guests.
Sean McDaid, James O’Connor, Simon Gillett and Jason Shackell all returned to the Keepmoat, while current first teamers Chris Brown, Gary Woods, David Cotterill, Kyle Bennett and Martin Woods were also in attendance.
Scunthorpe boss Brian Laws and his assistant Russ Wilcox, James Beattie, Jamie McDonnell and impressive guest speaker Matt Le Tissier were also at the event.
The auction of sporting memorabilia fetched in excess of £6,000 as guests dug deep to raise money for more research into Gastroschisis, the birth-defect condition which claimed the life of two-day old Luey.
Sharp’s boots that he wore when he scored his famous ‘Goal from Heaven’ against Middlesbrough were sold for £1,000, while a signed Jessica Ennis shirt went for £600.
An emotional Sharp later took to the stage to offer his thanks to everyone who attended.
“I can’t thank you all enough for your support,” he said. “It means absolutely everything to myself and Jade.”
For more information about the LJS Foundation, or to make a donation, visit www.ljsfoundation.org.uk.