Sheffield United confirm fundraising plan to help bring former favourite home after ex-Sunderland man’s life-changing brain injury

As The Star reported last month, a fundraising drive was organised to help pay for much-needed adaptations to the north-east home of ex-Blade John MacPhail, the Scottish defender who played 169 times for United and also had spells at Sunderland and Bristol City.

MacPhail, aged 66, suffered a serious brain injury when he fell down the stairs at home last December and is unlikely to ever walk again. After falling into a coma following the accident, he is now being cared for at The Bridge rehabilitation centre in Middlesbrough and his family hope to bring him home next year.

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A ‘MacPhail’s Miles’ fundraising page has reached its £20,000 target and the coffers will be swelled further when some of MacPhail’s former teammates return to Bramall Lane for a ‘Champions for Monty’ event, marking the nickname given to MacPhail at United and elsewhere.

“Friends and family have been helping to raise funds to make this happen,” said a United statement of the drive to get MacPhail back home, “and Sheffield United would also like to play its part and help to get John back where he belongs.”

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On November 24, Tony Kenworthy, Colin Morris, Keith Waugh and Steve Charles will join Paul Stancliffe and Tony Currie to look back at the memorable 1981/82 promotion season, in which MacPhail played a key role.

Tickets for the pie-and-peas event are £30, £20 of which will go to MacPhail’s appeal, and are available from United's box office.

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