Shirt auction offer

6:49am Friday 27th April 2007

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AN Andover man has stepped forward to help little Gary Coombs - the severely disabled two-year-old - by auctioning a signed Portsmouth football shirt.

The Andover Advertiser highlighted the plight of Gary last week. He is suffering from spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy after he had a brain haemorrhage when he was born prematurely at just 27 weeks.

Andover charity Brave Hearts has taken up his cause and launched an appeal to raise £10,000 to buy a two-seater wheelchair with body supports and harness, and a special medical bed with side guards and safety pads that will protect him from harm.

Now printer Andrew Newman, aged 36, of Florence Court, who won the shirt in a raffle during the club's first season in the Premier League, wants to auction it off for the appeal.

The whole squad for the 2003/4 home match against Tottenham signed the shirt, as well as manager Harry Redknapp and Pompey fan Andrew was delighted to win it.

But it has been stored away for the last three years and Andrew has been looking for a good cause which would benefit from the shirt being auctioned off.

If you would like to bid for the signed Portsmouth shirt the proceeds to go to the Gary Coombs Appeal then e mail newsdesk@andoveradvertiser.co.uk.

Meanwhile cheques have started coming in to the Andover Advertiser with a total of £75 contributed so far - and £242 from the charity duck race staged at the Town Mills at Easter has also been donated. If you would like to to donate, cheques should be made payable to Brave Hearts SCAF and sent to Brave Hearts, 11 Vespasian Road, Roman Way, Andover, SP10 5JP.