Ex-footballer Geoff Horsfield's B&B help for homeless man
- Published
Geoff Horsfield has set up a foundation to help vulnerable people get accommodation
An ex-footballer who put a homeless man up in a B&B for a weekend says he wants to "make life a bit better for people".
Geoff Horsfield, 44, met the rough sleeper while returning from a hospital with his nine-year-old daughter.
"This guy was dripping wet, cold and just sitting there... we got him a coffee and asked him his story."
In a tweet, the former Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion striker said "this is what my foundation & the fund raising is all about".
Mr Horsfield said he would find the man accommodation run by a foundation he set up in 2016.
He has previously set up five homes to help vulnerable people in the West Midlands.
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Speaking to the BBC, he said he and his daughter had been returning from hospital at about 21:00 BST on 6 October when they saw a homeless man in Wylde Green, Sutton Coldfield.
"This guy was dripping wet, cold and just sitting there with a thin blanket and a carrier bag.
"We got him a coffee and asked him his story.
"Then I just said 'let's get you put up in a B&B out of the cold'. So he came with us in the car to a place in Erdington where we put him up.
"I said he could invite a friend to stay there with him, but unfortunately the friend couldn't make it."
Since then the man, originally from the Lichfield area, has left the B&B and been in touch with Mr Horsfield.
"I just think it's important that we make life a bit better for people," Mr Horsfield added.
The gesture prompted praise from many on Twitter
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The ex-striker, who also played for Fulham and Halifax Town, quit as Port Vale coach in 2012 to run his own building business.
He carried out maintenance work for a housing association which helps vulnerable people, which led to him setting up his own foundation.
Mr Horsfield hopes to set up a centre for homeless people and ex-service personnel.
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