Birmingham City Football Club's first team is to take on a team of former internationals, pop stars and soap actors in aid of the MG Rover employees and their families.
The benefit game will be staged at St Andrew's on Tuesday May 10, in response to overwhelming demand from the club's players, management and staff.
The celebrity team will include stars from Coronation Street and Eastenders, and possibly members of boyband Westlife, and will be comanaged by Barry Fry and Capital Gold's Tom Ross.
Club captain Kenny Cunningham has been at the forefront of the campaign. He said: "Many of our supporters have lost their livelihoods due to the crisis with the Midlands car manufacturer MG Rover, and as a result we wanted to be able to give something back to those who have followed not only us, but other local football teams."
One thousand tickets for the game will be given away free to MG Rover employees by sponsors flybe, with the remaining tickets to be sold for £10 for adults and £5 for children to raise money for the benevolent fund.
Karren Brady, Chief Executive, said: "Every single penny raised from the game will go to an MG Rover benefit fund set up specifically for the cause so we'd be delighted to see everyone from the Midlands community pack the stadium and really get behind this worthy cause regardless of the team they're a fan of. This is an opportunity for all football fans to come together for the love of the game but in the true spirit of goodwill for MG Rover families, as many of us know or have family or friends affected by the closure."
Tickets will be available from today by calling 0871 226 1875 or at www.bcfc.com
