A kind-hearted young Millwall supporter gave £20 of his birthday money to his favourite player to pass on to charity.
Danny McNamara, a defender for the Championship club, shared an image on social media over the weekend of the poignant note. The fan, seven-year-old Benji Savage, wrote a letter saying: "Dear Danny, because you are my favourite player I would like to give you £20 of my birthday money for you to give to charity."
McNamara shared a screenshot of the letter along with a personal note, asking for help in reaching out to the young fan. He wrote: "I am unable to find this little fella's name however he handed me this letter after the game the other night. Firstly I just want to say how proud your parents must be of you to be such a kind-hearted young boy.
"My chosen charity is Cancer Research due to this illness currently impacting my family at this time. Also in memory of Ted Ayres who sadly passed this week at the young age of 59. Ted was a devoted Millwall fan. My thoughts are with his family and friends at this very sad time. I have donated your £20 and matched it. If anyone knows this little lad message me. I want to thank him personally."
Within less than an hour, McNamara updated his followers that he had been put in contact with the young fan.
The feel-good story came on a weekend when the Lions' game away at Birmingham City was marred by violence among both sets of supporters. Six arrests were made following crowd trouble with a 30-year-old man arrested on suspicion of assault after a 60-year-old Millwall fan was seriously injured before the game kicked off.
West Midlands Police confirmed that five more people were arrested following the match and that "bricks, bottles and objects were used as weapons".
A statement said: "The level of violence - which our officers put themselves in the middle of to protect people - meant some of our officers had to wear public order helmets, use shields and draw their batons, while continually warning people to move away. Our Football Policing Unit and detectives from Force CID have opened a joint investigation. They are working closely with both football clubs and supporter groups. More arrests will come in the following weeks meaning anyone involved should immediately go to their local police station to explain what happened."
On the pitch, Millwall snatched a point in a dramatic 2-2 draw that keeps alive their faint hopes of clinching a play-off spot.
Juninho Bacuna's opener for the hosts was cancelled out by Oliver Burke in the second half. Then, a penalty from Lyle Taylor looked like it would seal all three points for Birmingham only for Benik Afobe to convert a spot-kick of his own in the 96th minute to ensure spoils were shared. Millwall stay seventh but are now three points behind Sheffield United who occupy the final play-off spot with two games to go.
