Black Country football legends help raise £10,000 for Smile for Joel
Stars of Black Country football royalty helped raise more than £10,000 for Smile for Joel at a special Dining With Legends event.
More than 30 former players from Wolves, Walsall, Albion, Aston Villa and Birmingham City attended the event at Copthorne Hotel, in Dudley, last Thursday, in aid of the charity.
Donations from the event were still rolling in, but have already reached more than £10,000 for Smile for Joel, a charity set up to honour Joel Richards, Adrian Evans and Patrick Evans who were killed in the 2015 Tunisia terror attack.
The charity, set up by Joel's mother Suzy Evans and her son Owen Richards – Joel's younger brother – supports other families who are victims of murder or terrorism.
Wolves legends John Richards and Kenny Hibbitt attended the event, as well as West Bromwich Albion's Tony Brown and Brian Little, who also played for Aston Villa.
Former Albion player and manager Johnny Giles were also among the big names present, along with Villa’s European Cup-winning trio of Gary Shaw, Gordon Cowans and Tony Morley.
More than 400 guests were treated to a three-course meal, while there was also a raffle and a silent auction of sports memorabilia.
Suzy, from Wednesbury, said: "The Legends Night was amazing, our biggest yet. I truly want to thank all the football legends for giving up their time to attend and make it a magnificent night.
"Thank you to Steve Saul, from Route 39, a trustee of Smile for Joel, for arranging it all. We already have people asking to book up again next year.
"It is with a heavy heart that I think just how much my dad and brother would have loved this type of event too.
"The £10,000 raised will go towards helping so many families who are faced with losing a loved one through murder and terrorism."
John Richards added: "It is nice to see so many old faces. You struggle to remember all the names, because you don’t see people for many years. It is nice to see them in social occasions and supporting a good cause.
“It is a fantastic charity and that is what we must keep sight of. It is a social occasion for us but the main thing is raising some funds for the Smile for Joel charity.”
