Sheffield Wednesday players make donations in leading club charity push to 'help the vulnerable' in Covid-19 crisis

The starter pot kicks off the club’s effort to raise as much money as possible for those in need. It has been launched by the club through their SWFC Community Programme and follows a number of community engagement programmes run by the charity in recent years.

Their push has been christened the ‘SWFC Covid 19 Appeal’ and will run as long as the pandemic continues.

A club statement read: “We may be away from Hillsborough right now but our hearts remain in the community.

“Football has been suspended as the COVID-19 pandemic takes its toll on all of us, causing unprecedented change to our everyday lives.

“And those who are especially vulnerable need our help the most. Think the homeless, the hungry, the elderly, the visually impaired, the countless folk with all kinds of special physical or mental needs.

“We are all affected in some shape or form and the Owls are giving something back in these most difficult of times.”

Wednesday captain Tom Lees has supported the project along with several teammates, all of whom are training from home after the club closed their Middlewood Road training ground and Hillsborough stadium late last week.

Lees said: “The current situation we all find ourselves in is a total unknown and worrying time. No matter your job, earnings, lifestyle, age, gender, all those things, it doesn’t matter as we are all in the same boat.

“The club, the squad and all staff are making individual donations and hopefully our contribution as a group can kickstart things off for the local charities and projects in the area.

“We all wish everyone the very best during these tough times and hope you stay safe and look after each other. Please do get involved if you possibly can because every penny and pound makes a difference.”

Donations can be pledged via www.swfccp.co.uk/covid-19-appeal/