From West Brom star to helping the homeless: How Geoff Horsfield is making a difference

Following his retirement the Baggies hero has made it his goal to help those in need across the West Midlands.

His charity the Geoff Horsfield Foundation, which was set up in 2016, provides ‘quality, safe and secure supported accommodation’ for vulnerable adults in the region.

It marks the latest step in a less than conventional career, which saw him start out as a bricklayer and toil in the lower leagues before making it big.

Watch Geoff Horsfield talk about his charity work

Geoff, now aged 44, also battled testicular cancer in 2008 – defying doctors who predicted the disease would end his career.

And after hanging up his boots in 2013, Geoff has continued to prove he is an extraordinary man by focusing on charitable enterprises.

Now he is aiming to help tackle homeless in the West Midlands, and has returned to the bricklaying skills he learned before hitting the footballing big time.

The star personally renovates homes before new tenants – often from the streets – are moved in.

Geoff, who lives in Sutton Coldfield, said: “Homelessness around the country has become an epidemic.

“We’re in 2018 and we’ve got cars that can park themselves but we’ve still got homeless people in the streets. If we can’t help them there’s something wrong.

“My aim is to get people off the streets and get them back into normality and normal society. We try to help them as much as possible."

“I thought with my name and the people I know I could help these people, and it’s fantastic that people are coming forward and trying to help. Football makes the world go round.”

The foundation’s work also involves providing basic essentials such as food, clothes and sanitary towels for women. Much of this relies on donations, often from football fans far and wide that put their allegiances to one side.

“The generosity is overwhelming, it’s been incredible. There’s more going on in the world than the badge on the shirt,” said Geoff.

“It’s nice that we can forget about the football. They have been absolutely fantastic, all the fans.”

His footballing journey began in modest surroundings in his native Barnsley and he combined playing with work as a bricklayer – a trade he has returned to through his charity work, renovating accommodation before tenants move in.

Looking back on his earliest footballing memories, Geoff said: “I was playing on the streets. I just naturally scored goals, 10 or 11 a game. I played Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning and it just took off.

“I was bricklaying and playing in the local leagues. My dad took me there to toughen me up a bit. All the lads I played with were 10 years older than me and they all had trades and offered me an apprenticeship with them.”

“It set me in good stead for later life.”

Geoff was Albion’s top scorer when the Baggies were promoted to the Premier League at the end of the 2003/4 campaign – and they could probably do with his goals now as they battle relegation.

His career at the club peaked when he scored one of the most famous goals in their history to help preserve their top-flight status on the final day of the 2004/05 season.

“Coming on and scoring that goal, I think that’s got to be one of the highlights of my career alongside getting promotion under Gary Megson,” he said.

In 2008 Geoff overcame testicular cancer and shortly afterwards resumed his professional career, a testament to his strength of character. He admits helping the homeless is a million miles away from being the pitch.

“It is hugely different, but I wouldn’t stop it for the world. I still watch out for my old teams but what I’m doing now is a full-time job,” Geoff said.

“It’s totally different from football, it makes me realise how lucky I was to be a professional football player,” said Geoff. He also moved to defend his peers, who can be accused of doing little to help others.

Geoff said: “I don’t know if that [accusation] is true. There are a lot of footballers who do it and don’t publicise it. I publicise it to raise awareness of people being homeless.

He said: “I think footballers are tarred with the wrong brush at times, a lot of them do good.”

Charity

A charity night next month will help raise funds for Geoff’s Foundation.

As well as Albion fan and British middleweight champion Tommy Langford, some of Geoff’s former Baggies team-mates, including Darren Moore and Paul Robinson, are planning to attend.

“We’ve always kept close, I’ll do anything for them and they’ll do anything for me,” he said.

“We’re trying to raise as much money as we can; it really will be a good night.”

The event is at Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens on Friday, March 23. Entertainment includes live music, a DJ and a comic. An auction on the night includes a match day box at the Hawthorns, worth £4,000.

Tickets are available through online ticketing outlet Eventbrite and are priced at £65 per person plus booking fees.

Donations can also be made to the Geoff Horsfield Foundation at JustGiving.com

By Steve Jones