Friends and football fans are pulling together to try and raise £6,500 for Halesowen Town goalkeeper Daniel Platt so that he can fix his broken smile with dental treatment. The 23-year-old suffered dental trauma during a pre-season friendly that left him without three of his front teeth.
Thanks to loyal supporters of the club, around £700 has been raised so far with the help of a Just Giving page, and the Professional Footballers Association has also contributed £3000 so that Daniel can get the necessary restorative work done. In an interview with Birmingham Mail, the goalkeeper joked that he is ‘still single’ so the dental treatment is definitely needed sooner rather than later.
During a pre-season friendly against Tividale, Daniel clashed with striker Joel Ayetti and his jaw was fractured, leading to the tooth loss. Ayetti was knocked unconscious and taken to hospital, whilst Daniel was left holding his teeth – not realising how bad the damage was at the time. Someone had to tell him that his teeth were missing.
Although the clubs insurance doesn’t cover dental work, Daniel is grateful for the way the supporters and his friends have chipped in to help in pay for the treatment. Chairman of the club, Colin Brookes, said ‘He’s a brave lad and already back playing. At the moment, he’s got some temporary teeth. We do provide insurance but it only covers so much.’