West Brom legends come together for young fan Tommy
Albion players past and present have helped encourage generous Baggies to raise thousands of pounds for a five-year-old boy’s prosthetic limbs.
And now Tommy Brown, from Walsall, is set to be rewarded with a day to remember at The Hawthorns.
When he was just five months old, Tommy had to have his legs, arm and fingers amputated after contracting meningitis.
His family are now trying to raise money for a new set of prosthetic legs, and their plight encouraged season ticket holder Debbie Green to set up a fundraising night at the Pearl Banqueting Suite in West Bromwich.
FA Cup winning captain Graham Williams, 1960s star Micky Fudge, former striker ‘Super Bob’ Taylor, and ex-midfield favourite Andy Johnson all attended.
“The night was brilliant,” Debbie told the Express & Star. “We had raffles and auctions with match-worn signed shirts donated by Jake Livermore, Jay Rodriguez, and Jonathan Leko.
“I had boots off Chris Brunt and Jonny Evans, as well as gloves off Ben Foster.”
The evening raised just over £6,000, bringing the total closer towards the £20,000 needed for Tommy’s new prosthetics.
And now the Baggies-mad boy is going to be treated to a special day at The Hawthorns in the coming weeks.
Tommy is due to be taken onto the pitch at one of Albion's first home games of the season by his favourite player James Morrison, before scoring a goal in front of the Birmingham Road End.
Although the particular game is yet to be finalised, the club have also allowed Debbie to hold a bucket collection for Tommy outside the ground on the day in question.
Tommy received a special shirt with his name and Morrison's number on it at his fundraising night.
"He said 'you’re silly Debbie, I’m 5 not 7'," said the fundraiser, before revealing a particularly special moment at the end of the night.
"Tommy was happy and running around in his shirt and on his stumps," she said. "When the family were going, he said 'I want to talk' and pointed at the microphone.
"He doesn't normally talk much, but he said ‘thank you for my cake and thank you for my presents, thank you for all coming, Boing Boing.’
"Everybody in that room stood up and gave him a round of applause and grown men were crying. Half the room was in tears."
To donate to Tommy's official page, visit https://www.gofundme.com/qpj3as
