DONCASTER ROVERS BELLES ace Sophie Scargill took to social media to thank Gary Lineker for contributing £3000 to her knee surgery crowdfunder.
The Match of the Day presenter, 60, made the donation to help cover the cost of an operation for the Belles skipper who has ‘severe trauma’ in her knee ligaments.
It is thought Doncaster-born Watford full-back Danny Rose also contributed to the midfielder’s JustGiving appeal.
A supporter named D. Rose made a £2,500 donation whilst wishing Scargill ‘a speedy recovery’.
This comes in the same week the former Tottenham star made a £19,000 donation to a Doncaster NHS Foundation trust.
Lineker’s efforts on Friday along with contributions from 87 others means the player will be able to cover the costs of a private knee op.
In a post on her Twitter page, the midfielder, who receives no salary to play, wrote: “Wow. Speechless. Can’t quite believe any of this.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone that has so generously helped me reach my target.
@GaryLineker your unbelievable donation means I can now start my recovery process.”
The player also thanked Yorkshire Post for reporting on her crowdfund appeal prior to Lineker’s donation
In September 2020, Scargill ruptured her lateral meniscus during a training session with the club who are currently third in the FA Women’s National League’s Midlands Division – the fourth tier of women’s game.
According to her JustGiving page details, the 26-year-old’s life had been ‘turned upside down’ by the injury which had caused ‘severe trauma to the main ligaments’ in her right knee.
It had left her unable to play, hardly able to walk and in need of an operation ‘to stand any chance of returning’ to playing again.
Scargill needed to raise £5,000 to cover pay for a private operation with the midfielder reportedly only insured for up to £250 to play for the Belles.
The player, who works full-time as a commercial executive for the former Women’s Super League side, receives no pay for playing as the club are not a professional outfit.
It is thought going for surgery via the NHS would not have been viable for the Belles ace as it could have meant a wait of up two years for a procedure.
In a Yorkshire Post interview, Scargill said: “I’ve not approached Rovers once, I’ve not asked for any help.
“I was told I had insurance but that was only £250 and doesn’t even cover the MRI scan which was £350.
“I’m not bashing the NHS at all, but I wouldn’t be able to wait two years for the surgery because my mental health would be on the floor.
“When the doctor said it would massively increase the chances of never playing again, I panicked and went private, then realised I don’t have the £5,000.
“Lots of people told me to do crowdfunding so I didn’t have to take out a loan.”
On Friday, The Yorkshire Post reported that whilst Scargill was considering her options for covering treatment costs, Doncaster Rovers had promised to pay for knee and ankle surgery for men’s first-team player Joe Wright following injuries he picked up in April.
The paper the says club had since offered to loan Scargill the £5,000 but with her Crowdfunder having already raised £2000 by that stage the player was keen to continue down the fundraiser route.
Lineker’s donation to Scargill’s appeal was praised by football pundits Lianne Sanderson and Jacqui Oatley on social media.
And former Arsenal ace Sanderson stated she knew of ex-team-mates who have ‘waited for over a year for NHS surgery with no help from their clubs’.
The Belles, who are managed by Rovers’ hero Andy Butler, are currently third in the women’s fourth tier and chasing promotion.
The team, who play Wem Town next, are one the founding members of the WSL and regarded as a trailblazing side within women’s game.
The club’s talents include forwards Jasmine Saxton and Nadia Khan with Khan netting four goals in nine appearances this term and Saxton scoring five.
The Belles, who are six-time FA Cup winners and two-time winners of the old Women’s Premier League National title, have produced some of the best players in England in the past 30 years.
Their former stars who currently play in the WSL include Chelsea’s Millie Bright and Beth England, Brighton captain Victoria Williams and Leicester’s Jess Sigsworth and Jemma Purfield.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
