Portsmouth title winner and Bristol Rovers man launches fundraiser after daughter diagnosed with serious condition
The left-back made 43 appearances for the Blues in their 2023-24 promotion season
A Pompey League One champion has launched a fundraising campaign after his young daughter was diagnosed with a heart condition.
Jack Sparkes was a regular in John Mousinho’s 2023-24 side which finally secured a return to the Championship after a 12-year absence.
The attacking left-back featured 43 times in the Blues’ League One title triumph, with his delivery from set-pieces often a crucial component of their success.
Now with Bristol Rovers, the defender and his partner, Abbie, are running the Great Bristol Half Marathon to raise money in aid of their daughter, Lily, and other sufferers.
Lily was diagnosed with a heart condition at the age of two and is currently waiting to undergo open-heart surgery at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.
In the meantime, Sparkes and his partner will be taking part in the Great Bristol half marathon on Sunday, May 10.
And the former Pompey man’s £500 fundraising target has already been blown away, with £2,171 raised to date.
A statement from the Sparkes family on JustGiving said: ‘We are running the Bristol Half Marathon for our beautiful daughter. Lily was born a healthy baby, but as her parents we always felt that something just wasn’t quite right.
‘After countless appointments and being told not to worry, someone finally listened, and at just two years old Lily was diagnosed with a heart condition. When we found out, it was every parent’s worst nightmare, not knowing what the future would look like.
‘However, thanks to the incredible work and research carried out by the British Heart Foundation, we know Lily’s future looks bright. We were told she will need open heart surgery at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.
‘We are currently waiting for her heart to grow strong and healthy in preparation for her surgery.
‘As a family, we are raising money not only for Lily, but for all the brave children who face open heart surgery. The research, care, and incredible medical teams that make these life-saving operations possible rely so heavily on funding.
‘Any support, no matter how small, will help give children like Lily the healthy future they deserve. Thank you for being part of her journey.’
Arrived at Fratton Park in June 2023
Sparkes was recruited on a free transfer from Exeter in June 2023 to bolster Pompey’s push for promotion from League One.
He went on to start 27 matches, primarily at left-back, while Mousinho occasionally employed him off the bench as a left winger to utilise his natural attacking game.
However, Sparkes never had the opportunity to represent the Blues in the Championship, being sold to Peterborough in July 2024 for an undisclosed fee.
With Connor Ogilvie fit again and Jacob Farrell arriving from Central Coast Mariners, Pompey were well-stocked for left-backs by that stage.
After moving to London Road, Sparkes spent the second half of last season on loan at Chesterfield, before joining League Two Bristol Rovers on a free transfer last summer.
He has made 36 appearances for Steve Evans’ side this season in their battle to remain in the Football League.