Manchester City winger Adam Johnson has donated a shirt and a pair of boots to his former club Middlesbrough, who have put the items on auction to raise funds for a World War One memorial.

The Championship side are trying to raise £10,000 to build the memorial to honour the 17th and 23rd Middlesex, who were a group of footballers serving in the Great War who were also known as the Footballers’ Battalion.

Football League Trust youth development officer, Phil Stant, who is in charge of the auction, told the official Football League website, "the men who died in that battalion have no memorial. There is nothing physical thanking them for the sacrifices they made.

"It is important that we raise money for this project and I am delighted that Middlesbrough have decided to participate.

"I would like to thank them and their supporters in advance for their efforts."

Middlesbrough Academy chief David Parnaby added, "When Adam donated his shirt and boots, I always intended to use it to raise money for a forces-related cause.

"Phil Stant told me about the memorial for the Footballers' Battalion. It seems really fitting."


Source: Goal UK