Former Sunderland defender Jody Craddock is bringing an exhibition of his art to Sunderland in the next few weeks.
Jody’s prowess as an artist is slowly becoming more and more well-known, and he has had several exhibitions of his work, as well as producing commissions for the general public as well as for other professional footballers and even clubs – including Michael Proctor and his current club Wolves – this painting currently hangs in the foyer of the club’s Molineux ground.
Jody, 29, played for Sunderland for six years until his transfer to Wolves in the summer of 2003. That transfer came, however, after a personal tragedy; his baby son Jake died from cot death in August 2002. Some of the proceeds of this exhibition will be donated to the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths; the showing is Jody’s way of thanking the people of Sunderland for the support showed to him and his wife Shelley in the days after Jake’s death. Thousands of SAFC supporters laid flowers at the Stadium of Light and observed a minute’s silence at the home match which took place only days after Jake passed away.
The showing of Jody’s work will be at Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens on Burdon Road in the City Centre, from Friday 12th November until Sunday 5th December – open Mondays to Saturdays from 10am to 5pm and on Sundays between 2pm and 5pm.
