Auction funds season tickets for football fans

Former Doncaster Rovers chairman John Ryan, centre, wants to give back to his community

A former football club chairman has begun auctioning off his collection of sporting memorabilia to raise money to buy season tickets for "deserving" fans.

John Ryan, who was chairman of Doncaster Rovers between 1998 and 2013, said he would match-fund the total raised from the bids with his own money.

Mr Ryan is now 74 and said he wanted to "give something back" to his home city and community.

The season tickets would be purchased with the profits of the auction and donated to good causes.

Mr Ryan has been advertising the items on Facebook and some have already sold, including a pair of boots worn by striker Billy Sharp, who recently re-signed for Rovers at the age of 38, and which fetched £260.

Bids were also being invited for a special edition book of signed photographs from the club's Johnstone's Paint Trophy victory in 2007 and a shirt signed by the team that won promotion to the Championship in 2008.

Cosmetic surgery entrepreneur Mr Ryan grew up in the Doncaster suburb of Cantley and said he was "not at all sad" to see his collection go to new homes.

"It's doing the community and the club good," he added.

"I'm 74 now, nobody lives forever, and I want to spread the collection out a bit and let younger people have it.

"If it raises money for a good cause then great, I'm happy."

A pair of football boots signed by Doncaster striker Billy Sharp fetched £260

Mr Ryan's spell as Doncaster chairman coincided with a golden era in the club's history, which included their first major trophy and four consecutive seasons in the Championship from 2008 to 2012.

He remains a popular figure with many supporters and a vocal supporter of his boyhood team.

Mr Ryan said: "If I can put a little back, then I will do.

"That's why I got involved with the football club. It gives a lot of people in Doncaster a lot of pleasure."

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