A fund set up by Forest fans to raise money in support of Sheffield United’s Billy Sharp has smashed it’s initial target of £500.
The gesture was made after the former Forest loanee required stitches after being assaulted in the aftermath of the play-off semi-final between Forest and Sheffield United. Sharp was knocked to the ground amid a pitch invasion following the Reds’ penalty shootout success.
Robert Biggs, who pleaded guilty to assault occasioning in actual bodily harm, was jailed for 24 weeks at Nottingham Magistrates Court on Thursday. He was also ordered to pay £500 in compensation, £85 in costs and £128 victim surcharge as well as being banned for life from the City Ground.
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Following the incident, Forest fans showed their condemnation of the assault by setting up a Just Giving page to raise money for a charity of Sharp’s choosing. It has since been revealed that the money raised will go to Martin House Hospice, a centre who provide care for children with life-limiting illnesses.
The initial target on the page was to raise £500 for the charity, that target has now however been smashed. The current total on the page is £13,444, over 2000 percent over the original target.
Lifelong Forest fan Zoe Potts, who set up the page, has now set a new target of £15,000. “You folks are amazing,” she wrote on the page. “When I first started this I couldn't imagine it would take off like this!” The page is also full of comments from Forest fans who have donated in support of Sharp and condemning the action of one person.
The Just Giving page is still open for contributions and can be found by clicking here .
