Millwall fans top the table for charity giving on last day of Cancer Deadline Day

The headlines elsewhere might be about the “bad boys” of football topping the cancer giving charts.

But the truth is Millwall topping a charity donations table should not be a surprise – Help for Heroes and Prostate Cancer UK can testify to that.

But Lions fans gave more than DOUBLE the next-most-generous club in a battle to see who could raise the most money. That’s a good title to take – especially for one of the, ahem, less popular clubs in the world.

Many of Millwall’s players also donated to the cause, helping the Lions to finish on £11,214, clear of Championship rivals Brentford, with £5,180, in the giving table. Arsenal were the top Premier League club, on £1,709, with South London rivals Crystal Palace bringing in £264.

Millwall chief executive Steve Kavanagh said: “It is immensely impressive, though not remotely surprising, that the Millwall family has yet again come together and excelled itself with this important fundraising initiative.

“Cancer is an illness which has impacted so many in society and, speaking as someone who has lost both parents to the disease, it makes me so incredibly proud to work at this wonderful football club which continues to go above and beyond when duty calls.

“I’d like to thank all the fans, players and staff who have contributed, and indeed to all those at other clubs who have helped to raise a fantastic total for a variety of cancer charities. Football once more shows just how powerful a force for good it is.”

A consortium of eight cancer charities who have registered with Cancer Deadline Day will all receive an equal split of the money raised, which currently stands at £28,000. The eight charities are: Breast Cancer Now, Clic Sargent, Macmillan Cancer Support, Pancreatic Cancer UK, Prostate Cancer UK, The Ruth Strauss Foundation, Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and Teenage Cancer Trust.

The giving table closed when the transfer window shut at 11pm on deadline day, Monday, but

fans can still donate at www.cancerdeadlineday.org until the end of February 4, World Cancer Day.