Non-league clubside Wednesfield names a stand at its ground after Super Eagles keeper Carl Ikeme

ENGLISH non-league clubside Wednesfield FC has formally inaugurated a Carl Ikeme Stand in solidarity with Super Eagles goalkeeper Carl Ikeme who is battling against cancer of the blood otherwise known as leukaemia.

During a routine pre-season medical check-up, Ikeme's blood was found to contain certain abnormalities and subsequent examination showed that he had leukaemia. Football has since rallied around him, with past and present stars  all pledging to stand behind the Super eagles goalkeeper as he battles on.

Yesterday, Wolves goalkeepers past and present were on hand to formally unveil a football stand named after Ikeme. Legendary stopper Phil Parkes and current squad-member Harry Burgoyne cut the ribbon on the Carl Ikeme Stand at Wednesfield FC’s Cottage Ground, as the non-league club decided to name its stand in support of Ikeme.

Burgoyne, said: “It came as a shock to Carl I’m sure but he seems to have taken it really well and he knows all the lads we are all behind him. After he comes to terms with it there is nobody better to come through it as Carl is as strong as anyone I know.”

Parkes, who played for Wolves more than 300 times, added: “Carl has been at Wolves for a long time. He has been here since he was a kid.

“You have to gain respect and he has gained that the same way Matt Murray did. The football world all stick together when times are tough and we have seen that again from all the different clubs who have been in touch and offered messages of support, which is fantastic to see.”

The stand was unveiled ahead of Wednesfield’s match with Wolverhampton United in the Ron Brown Memorial Cup. According to the club, it had been looking to sell naming rights to the stand to raise cash but chiefs decided support for the 31-year-old keeper was more important.