Bolton defender Gethin Jones has thanked the Wanderers fans for turning out in big numbers for a charity match to raise funds for the treatment of his mum Karen.
More than 13,000 supporters flocked to the University of Bolton Stadium this afternoon to watch the current Wanderers side take on a team of club legends.
Jay-Jay Okocha put the All Star XI team - managed by legendard Bolton boss Sam Allardyce - ahead in the first half, before George Thomason, Nathan Delfouneso and Xavier Amaechi put the current Wanderers side in front at the break.
READ MORE: Bolton Wanderers 7-4 Bolton All Stars: All the scorers and action from charity match
Wanderers boss Ian Evatt came off the bench in the second half to net a hat trick, while Dapo Afolayan also netted for the hosts.
Chris Eagles found the back of the net twice, while John McGinlay netted from the penalty spot for the legends.
Jones managed Wanderers for the day and has thanked supporters for turning out in their droves to support today's game, which is part of fundraising for the treatment of Wanderers defender Gethin Jones' mother, Karen, who has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND).
The family are aiming to pursue the best current care and leading course of treatment which is available only in the United States.
And Jones said: “I just want to say to everyone ‘thank-you so much’ – it has been amazing to see the support we have been given over the last three or four months, but today, for everyone to back us in the way they have, there are no words for it.
“I know it is nice for the supporters to see some of their favourite players, the legends, and that was for them.
“But on behalf of the family I just want to thank everyone, it has meant a lot.
“Honestly, I can’t begin to tell you how much that means to me and my family.
“I was told last night that it was getting close to 10,000 and might go over if with pay-on-the-gate and when I arrived at 11am they said they might have to put kick-off back 15 minutes because so many people were walking in.
“To get to 13,000 is just incredible. It is over-whelming. The whole family is made up and there were about 80 of us here, but it was just great for my mum to see the support she is getting from everyone. I just want to thank everyone.
“The whole club, the staff, my team-mates, everyone at the hotel, they have been excellent. I am chuffed to bits for my mum, really.
“We need to get the treatment sorted in Boston ASAP, really, so on November 23 we’ll have the consultation and we are just trying to get the flights out.
“She will be out there for three or four days and then we will take it from there."
The Wanderers supporters showed their support when the Jones family including Karen came out onto the pitch before the match and received widespread applause.
Jones even jogged onto the pitch to kick the game off and the defender, who is currently out injured, believed it was a 'special touch' to do so.
He said: “Stelios had mentioned it to me, but I’d forgot with organising everything.
“When the game started I’d sat down and I could hear Xav (Amaechi) shouting ‘Geth come on!’
“I’m like ‘what’s the matter?’ But to go out there and start the game, kick the first ball, it was a special touch.
“It has happened at a perfect time for us, 100 per cent.”
