The main event of the PFA’s 100th year is fast approaching with some of the world’s greatest football names jetting into Manchester for the special charity game the Match of the Century.
The event will be hosted at the City of Manchester Stadium on 2nd December and the early signs indicate that it will be a complete sell-out.
A number of players have already confirmed their availability but the full squads are still to be announced.
With global superstars like Zenedine Zidane and former England captain David Beckham hoping to join legends such as Alan Shearer and Gianfranco Zola, the game will play a significant role in the PFA’s quest to raise £1 million in this their Centenary year.
Terry Venables will manage an England Legends XI against Sven Goran Eriksson and his star studded Rest of the World XI squad.
Venables said:
“The PFA is a magnificent organisation and it is only right that we celebrate 100 years of history with an occasion of this stature.”
“The only problem I’m having is trying to fit everyone into my team, the response has been phenomenal – only wish I had such talent available to me when I was in charge of the full England team! Sven will pick a team of world stars but it is up to us to try and put one over on him in his own back yard.”
The PFA launched the ‘One Goal, One Million’ trust fund in January to raise the required funds through a series of events aimed at celebrating their magnificent milestone.
The money raised from the Match of the Century will be used to fund a new Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Unit for Children at the University Children’s Hospital in Manchester.
Sven said:
“It is an honour to be invited and I am delighted to be able to give something back to the city that has made me feel so welcome. The PFA does fantastic work and raises thousands of pounds for good causes. There can be none better than the Children’s Unit they are trying to build in Manchester.”
As Chief Executive of the PFA, Gordon Taylor said:
“It promises to be a fantastic occasion with so many footballing legends on show.”
“It would certainly be the perfect end to an excellent year if I could stand up at the Gala Dinner and announce that we have reached our million pound target.”
The match will kick-off at 1.30pm on Sunday 2nd December at the City of Manchester Stadium and the advice is book early to avoid disappointment.
Tickets are priced at £10 adults, £5 children although children accompanied by TWO adults will be admitted free.
TICKET HOTLINE NUMBER FOR THE MATCH: 0870 062 1894 (Option 1)
