League Two club Wrexham have reportedly been given a boost thanks to the alleged antics of Craig Bellamy in Portugal recently.
Bellamy was fined by the club after an incident involving him, a golf club and John Arne Riise at a training camp was splashed across the press. The club never revealed any real details of what went on, although most of what was reported was greatly exaggerated. What they did do was announce that any players involved had been fined, and that those fines were to be donated to charity as requested by the players. It was also suggested by the club that the players actually paid higher fines than the club had imposed.
Bellamy asked that at least some of his fine be donated to Wrexham who are struggling at the bottom of League Two. Liverpool FC have strong relationships with Wrexham, using their Racecourse Ground for reserve games and also playing a pre-season fixture there last summer. In fact Bellamy made his Reds debut in that pre-season game after signing from Blackburn.
Bellamy’s money has helped Wrexham pay for three loan deals: Hartlepool forward Mike Proctor, Port Vale centre-back Richard Walker, and also Carlisle’s former under-21 goalkeeper Anthony Williams.
The three were all signed in time for last week’s loan deadline and played in the club’s 1-0 win away to Bristol Rovers.
All three joined the Racecourse club just before last Thursday's deadline for loan deals in the Football League, and all played in last Saturday's crucial 1-0 away win at Bristol Rovers.
No details have been revealed of the sums of money involved, but already Bellamy’s contribution has helped Wrexham in their fight to avoid dropping into the Conference.
Update: The Welsh side made a statement about the donation later in the day, thanking the Welsh international for his gesture: "The Directors of Wrexham FC would personally like to say a very big thank you on behalf of all our supporters to Wales' own Craig Bellamy for the very generous donation he has made to Wrexham Football Club. We feel very honoured and privileged that Craig has chosen to help Wrexham FC and Welsh football in this manner. He will always receive a warm welcome at the Racecourse Ground and is indeed a Welsh hero."
Bellamy explained his reasons for wanting the money to be paid to the North Wales side, one of the few Welsh teams in the English league system: "Being a proud Welshman and supporter of Welsh football, I feel it's important that Wrexham retain their place in The Football League and I hope this gesture can help. I have a lot of friends playing at the club and have enjoyed some memorable times at the Racecourse, especially when I was given the Captain's armband for my country. I also remember the wonderful reception from the local fans when I made my Liverpool debut there in a pre-season friendly."
Meanwhile Liverpool's Head of Press Ian Cotton said: "It was the players themselves who suggested that any fines following the training camp in Portugal should be donated to good causes. Local charities in Liverpool will benefit, but Craig was keen to help Wrexham as well."