# Footballers and giving in the face of coronavirus - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/04/16/footballers-and-giving-in-the-face-of-coronavirus/ - Published: 2020-04-16T10:58:23+01:00 - Author: Howard Lake **Emergency and disaster appeals often elicit similar calls for certain groups to give, or for providers to charge less. The appeals on behalf of NHS staff and all charities affected by the coronavirus pandemic are no different.** The first stock section of society that attracted public attention was professional footballers, specifically Premier League footballers. Health Secretary Matt Hancock suggested that they should donate a portion of their wages. He even specified that they should then direct these not to charities of their choice but to ‘struggling hospices’. ## Advertisement > Health Secretary Matt Hancock has called on Premier League footballers to donate > a portion of their wages to struggling hospices, writes [@DanielHewittITV](https://twitter.com/DanielHewittITV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [https://t.co/9vbB2A1lcP](https://t.co/9vbB2A1lcP) [pic.twitter.com/QbIjicHcb3](https://t.co/QbIjicHcb3) > — ITV News (@itvnews) [April 5, 2020](https://twitter.com/itvnews/status/1246778284614049793?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) Such generic calls are odd. Hectoring a specific profession and not others is seldom an effective fundraising tool. It smacks of choosing an easy target, ignores existing giving and different charitable interests by said footballers, and perhaps of playing to the gallery in a crisis.  Of course, all wealthy individuals might be encouraged to join in their support of current appeals, but to single out one profession is fundraising at the level of “why don’t you ask Bill Gates to donate to your charity?” or, from my early days in fundraising, “why don’t you get Sting to put on a concert for you?” Coming from a member of a Cabinet consisting almost exclusively of multi-millionaires the focus on professional footballers rings a little hollow too. Nevertheless journalist Robert Peston backed the idea: > Rather than giving money back to Premier League clubs with pay cuts, wouldn’t > it be better if players donate those millions to services in frontline of helping > us through the [#COVID19](https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > crisis. Many hospices are in dire financial straights. Come on football, do what > you can to help > — Robert Peston (@Peston) [April 5, 2020](https://twitter.com/Peston/status/1246713859521622016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)   Former political adviser Alastair Campbell called this out as simple populism: > What about bankers? Lawyers? Film stars? F1 drivers? TV presenters? This is the > worst form of populism. And there will come a point where government is going > to have to save smaller clubs. So STFU and do the day job [@MattHancock](https://twitter.com/MattHancock?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [https://t.co/bVVv1mYjFM](https://t.co/bVVv1mYjFM) > — ALASTAIR CAMPBELL (@campbellclaret) [April 5, 2020](https://twitter.com/campbellclaret/status/1246784484084776962?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) Wayne Rooney responded, pointing out that the suggestion was not made in good grace: https://twitter.com/matchofthedave/status/1246854505314037760?s=12 And was met, not unexpectedly, with a negative news story the very next morning in the Daily Mail: > Wayne Rooney 'is told off by police for breaking lockdown rules by meeting fellow > player Kyle Walker' [https://t.co/ukVzhA7jIF](https://t.co/ukVzhA7jIF) > — Mail+ (@DailyMailUK) [April 6, 2020](https://twitter.com/DailyMailUK/status/1247067037974790144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **SEE ALSO: [How Manchester City supported its community during COVID-19](https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/05/24/how-manchester-city-supported-its-community-during-the-past-year/)( 24 May 2021)**   ## Footballers who have given Needless to say, footballers and Premier League players, do give to charity in various ways, and have given in response to the coronavirus crisis. Gary Neville made available the two hotels he part-owns with former Manchester United team-mate Ryan Giggs to NHS workers free of charge. > A message from our co-owner Gary Neville. [@GNev2](https://twitter.com/GNev2?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [@GG_Hospitality](https://twitter.com/GG_Hospitality?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/uy2rEfweho](https://t.co/uy2rEfweho) > — Hotel Football (@hotelfootballuk) [March 18, 2020](https://twitter.com/hotelfootballuk/status/1240313520643887105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) Joe Cole and his wife have set up a charity and provided support to NHS staff. > Joe Cole and his wife have set up a charity. 300k raised. > – Bought 50 3D printers > to print thousands of medical visors for frontline NHS staff.– Sent nutritious > food direct to hospital staff.– providing childcare to NHS staff– offering therapy > to NHS staffWhat a guy 👏👏 > — Jake Humphrey (@mrjakehumphrey) [April 4, 2020](https://twitter.com/mrjakehumphrey/status/1246386577846263808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) Jordan Henderson fronted “a huge group of players” from the Premier League who have created #PlayersTogether, an initiative to partner with and support NHS Charities Together.   > [#PlayersTogether](https://twitter.com/hashtag/PlayersTogether?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [pic.twitter.com/e7uWYIOhL2](https://t.co/e7uWYIOhL2) > — Jordan Henderson (@JHenderson) [April 8, 2020](https://twitter.com/JHenderson/status/1247977956082843649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)   > England’s Lionesses chip in with support for [#PlayersTogether](https://twitter.com/hashtag/PlayersTogether?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > fund [pic.twitter.com/rwAR4SM7uN](https://t.co/rwAR4SM7uN) > — footainment (@F00tainment) [April 16, 2020](https://twitter.com/F00tainment/status/1250687640896225280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)   Other players are calling for support for other charities beyond the NHS Charities Together campaign: > It's great to see [@JayRodriguez9](https://twitter.com/JayRodriguez9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > is supporting his local Hospice [@PendlesideHosp](https://twitter.com/PendlesideHosp?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > Hospice! ⚽🙌 > The [#PlayersTogether](https://twitter.com/hashtag/PlayersTogether?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > campaign is wonderful but unfortunately doesn't cover Hospices. Carl wants to > raise £1M to cover funds lost from cancelled events. See his latest message below. > [https://t.co/xJnIBOWmDR](https://t.co/xJnIBOWmDR) > — East Cheshire Hospice (@ECHospice) [April 16, 2020](https://twitter.com/ECHospice/status/1250706955301158913?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) ## ⏎ Calling supporters under lockdown Footballers can give in other ways too. Staff, current and past [players at Stoke City are calling supporters](https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stoke-city-jack-butland-fans-4029582) to encourage them and counter their isolation under lockdown. The football club is owned by the Coates family. The Denise Coates Foundation has donated £10 million to help staff and patients at Royal Stoke and the County Hospital. ## More football fundraising * **[Six football-related fundraising events](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/06/01/six-football-related-fundraising-events/)( 1 June 2016)** * **[Got. Got. Need. Confessions of a football sticker collector](https://fundraising.co.uk/2014/04/23/got-got-need-confessions-football-sticker-collector/)( 23 April 2014)** * **[Marcus Rashford is the youngest person to lead the Sunday Times Giving List](https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/05/26/marcus-rashford-is-the-youngest-person-to-lead-the-sunday-times-giving-list/)( 26 May 2021)**