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Birmingham City FC mark Arthur Labinjo-Hughes birthday with first Memorial Matchday
Via Jake for Birmingham City FC
Birmingham City FC is to honour Arthur Labinjo-Hughes every year by dedicating the home matchday closest to his birthday to the memory of the young boy, with today (Saturday 8th January 2022) marking the first annual Arthur Memorial Matchday.
The Family Zone has already been renamed Arthur’s Area and started planning a memorial garden in his name, the Club would also like to host annual fundraisers to help causes chosen by Arthur’s family, to help tackle and prevent child abuse in the future.
A special Arthur programme has been curated and £1 from each sale will be donated to the NSPCC, with the figure raised being matched by programme designers Ignition Sports Media. Fundraisers from the NSPCC were also in the stands at St. Andrew’s for Saturday’s game, with important information from the organisation displayed on the big screen during the match.
For the annual fixture, the FA has given special dispensation for Blues players to wear commemorative shirts with an Arthur 6 kit printed on them. These shirts were auctioned off in the Jasper Carrot Suite after the game and also on eBay (which has waived all fees) for this week following Arthur’s Memorial Matchday. A number of shirts will also be given to Arthur’s family. As with the programme and ticket donations, all proceeds will go towards the NSPCC.
The Club has spoken with members of Arthur’s family, and it was decided the fundraising would go towards the NSPCC for the preventive work they do with at-risk children in Birmingham. Funds will also go to Birmingham Children’s Hospital, where staff worked tirelessly to help Arthur.
Each year at the Arthur Memorial Matchday, an executive box will also be donated to a local children’s care home for the carers and young people to use and enjoy a game in a unique way.
Ian Dutton, Chief Commercial Officer at Birmingham City FC, said:
The image of young Arthur smiling in his Blues kit is one we want to live on forever. As well as the memorial activity already in place, we want fans to remember Arthur every single year on his birthday, and with an annual fundraiser, hopefully we can do our part to save a young child who might be in a similar position.
It is important that as well as commemorating Arthur, we act on this horrific passing to try to prevent it in the future, and funding good causes could help to save a young life.”
To find out more about the work the NSPCC does in Birmingham visit nspcc.org.uk.
