Ipswich Town: Marcus Stewart shirt saved from tip to be auctioned

The signed Marcus Stewart shirt was rescued from a Suffolk tip

A signed Marcus Stewart shirt is to be auctioned for a charity supporting the ex-striker after being rescued from a rubbish tip by a lifelong fan.

Chris Peachey, 37, of Newmarket, spotted the number 11 Ipswich Town shirt at Bury St Edmunds recycling centre in Suffolk.

He handed the framed home shirt to the club and it will be sold to raise funds for the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation.

Mr Peachey said: "I did not want to make money, so I wanted a charity to."

Former Town player Stewart, 50, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) last year.

His 19 goals for the Blues made him the Premier League's second-top goalscorer during 2000-01.

He also played for Bristol Rovers, Huddersfield Town, Ipswich Town, Sunderland, Bristol City, Yeovil Town and Exeter City.

Marcus Stewart helped Ipswich Town qualify for the Uefa Cup during his time at the club

Mr Peachey, a season ticket holder since 1997, was dropping off unwanted goods at the tip in September when he saw the scuffed frame had been left.

He was amazed someone had been prepared to throw away the home shirt signed by his boyhood heroes, including attacker Stewart, midfielder Matt Holland and goalkeeper Richard Wright.

Mr Peachey contacted the Championship club and it arranged to have the memento re-framed before it goes up for auction in November at the inaugural Ipswich Town Foundation dinner.

The kit was found by lifelong Ipswich Town fan Chris Peachey

Mr Peachey said: "The shirt was in pristine condition. I can't believe someone was willing to throw it away.

"It is the kit from when I was growing up and has all my heroes' names on there - Marcus is still a hero to me today.

"I put the pictures on Twitter and I've had people offering me money for it but that's not right. I wanted to raise some money for charity."

The framed number 11 shirt was signed by Stewart's teammates, including Matt Holland and Richard Wright

The Ipswich Town Foundation's fundraising dinner will be held on 9 November.

Dan Palfrey, foundation director, said: "We're delighted that Chris has come forward with such generosity to donate this brilliant Marcus Stewart signed shirt."

No guide price has been set for the shirt.