Leeds Utd poppy shirt auctioned by blind veteran

A blind veteran is hoping to raise funds for two military charities by auctioning off a Remembrance Day football shirt worn by Leeds United player Ao Tanaka.

Chris Fella, 61, from Otley, was presented with the shirt, which features a special poppy design, after taking the salute before the club's match against QPR at Elland Road on 9 November.

He was gifted the item, which had been worn by Tanaka during a previous fixture, on the condition he sold it to raise funds for a military charity.

Mr Fella said following the online auction, which ends on Sunday, any funds raised would go to Blind Veterans UK and Hounds for Heroes.

Mr Fella served for seven years in the Army after joining up in 1982.

However, in later life he was diagnosed with optic neuritis, which caused him to lose his sight. He has been receiving support from Blind Veterans UK ever since.

He was invited to give the salute in front of 38,000 fans by RAF veteran Darren Brooke, at a special Remembrance Day memorial match at Elland Road, alongside Navy veteran Danny Dance, his fellow founding member of Veterans Club Leeds.

Talking about his key role in the Remembrance Day events at Elland Road, Mr Fella said: "After the moment of silence the crowd just exploded with noise. I felt so proud. It was the best experience of my life."

He added: "Leeds United generously gave us the shirt under the condition that we auction it off for a military charity. So we're raising funds for Blind Veterans UK and Hounds for Heroes."

Mr Fella said Blind Veterans UK had been "fantastic" in the support they had given him.

"They've been great at training me up on technology that finds ways of navigating around my sight loss," he added.

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