Albion's Ben Foster to auction shirts of Premier League stars
Shirts worn by the Premier League's top scorer, last season's player of the year and arguably the best goalkeeper in the country are to be auctioned off by Albion star Ben Foster for charity.
Fans will be able to bid for the shirts of some of the Premier League's biggest stars as part of a fundraising drive for Care Leukaemia.
They include Everton striker Romelu Lukaku, who is currently the Premier League's top scorer, Manchester United shot stopper David de Gea and Leicester City's title-winner and footballer of the year Riyad Mahrez.
Albion keeper Foster has collected the shirts from his Premier League rivals during games this season and the auction will be his latest fundraising effort for the charity which he has supported since taking part in a London to Paris bike ride in 2015.
Other shirts include those of counterparts between the sticks, Petr Cech of Arsenal and Chelsea's Thibaut Courtois.
Foster has also helped raised funds for youngster Bradley Lowery, whose battle with nueroblastoma and relationship struck-up with Sunderland hero Jermain Defoe has captured the hearts of the nation.
Bidding has now ended on Defoe's shirt, and half of the proceeds from the sale will go to his the family's charity.
The shirt worn by Spanish goalkeeper de Gea is being sold in a different way.
It is expected to attract substantial funds as it has been signed by the man himself. Anyone who gives £10 to Foster's JustGiving crowdfunding page could be in with a chance of winning it.
Auctions for the shirts of Lukaku and Mahrez went live on eBay on Thursday. Two more will then be available every Thursday for the rest of the season.
And with such prestigious names involved, the shirts are expected to be highly sought by football fans eager to get their hands on rare match-worn memorabilia.
Foster said: "I really hope these shirts can raise significant funds for Care Leukaemia. "We sometimes forget, as footballers, how much fans value these shirts and especially those worn by their favourite players so this is a way I can really help this year.
"I want to thank all of the players who have been so generous in donating their shirts and I really hope the public respond and get their bids in because it is all for a tremendous charity.
"I will continue to collect these shirts after every match West Brom play so I's sure we could start having some banter with the fans on social media to ask which player's shirt I should go and ask for after the game."
