Norwich City fans have the chance to bid for some special keepsakes in aid of good causes during football’s suspension for the coronavirus pandemic.
Current Canaries player Marco Stiepermann is auctioning the shirt he wore as Daniel Farke’s team won 2-1 at Aston Villa to wrap up the Championship title on the final day of last season.
And former City winger Elliott Bennett also auctioned two of his prized possessions, his boots and matchday programme from the Canaries’ Championship play-off final success at Wembley in 2015.
Bennett, now at Blackburn Rovers, was an unused substitute as City beat Middlesbrough 2-0 to earn promotion as he continued rebuilding his career after a serious knee injury.
He scored three goals in 79 games after signing from Brighton in 2011 and was sold to Blackburn in January 2016 - where he now plays alongside former City team-mate and 2015 player-of-the-season winner Bradley Johnson, who is raising funds towards a £1million appeal for personal protective equipment (PPE) for NHS staff.
Bennett posted a photo on his @EBenno88 Twitter account after the bidding was completed on Monday evening, saying: “Congratulations to @KeithGallois on your winning bid of £400!
“Got to be honest I’m so happy you have won and hope it can bring your son some happiness in the saddest of times. All proceeds going to @dexblackstock23 and Bradley Johnson incredible effort.”
MORE: City skipper’s personal reason for helping set up NHS fund
In a similar vein, Stiepermann is putting his title-winning shirt from last season to auction, with bidding open until Friday afternoon.
The former Borussia Dortmund midfielder has scored 11 goals in 95 games since joining from Greuther Furth in 2017 and played an integral role in last season’s success.
Funds raised from the German’s auction will be split between City’s charity partner, the Community Sports Foundation, and the Players Together fund set up by Premier League players in aid of NHS Charities Together during the coronavirus crisis.
Stiepermann posted on his @Stiepi18 Instagram account, saying: “I’m auctioning off my signed match shirt from the Villa promotion game. A special shirt from my career!
“Will donate 50 percent to Community Sports Foundation and 50 percent to our #PlayersTogether campaign to support Covid-19 campaigns. To enter, private message me on Instagram. Highest bidder will win it!
“Will close auction on Friday evening at 5pm. Good luck and please only serious offers!”
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