THE inaugural inductees to The National Football Museum's 'Hall Of Fame' have been announced.

Sir Bobby Charlton disclosed the names of the 23 players and six managers who are to be honoured at the December 1st gala dinner to be held at the museum.

Sir Bobby said: "I'm really proud to be included in the Hall of Fame. It's a great honour. If you look at the names included I have to say I couldn't argue with them. They are all great players and people I would have loved to have played with.

Twenty of the game's greatest names agreed to deliberate over the inaugural inductees into the museum's 'Hall of Fame' including, amongst others, Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Bobby Robson, Terry Venables and Brian Clough.

"This will become an annual event," said Bushell: "Eagerly awaited, much debated and as exciting as the Oscars."

It has been an incredibly difficult task to get the 95 nominations down to 29 but, now that the votes have been counted, Sir Bobby will announce the inductees as follows:

Men's Players: Gordon Banks (Leicester City, Stoke City), George Best (Manchester United), Eric Cantona (Manchester United), John Charles (Leeds United), Bobby Charlton (Manchester United), Kenny Dalglish (Liverpool), Dixie Dean (Everton), Peter Doherty (Manchester City), Duncan Edwards (Manchester United), Tom Finney (Preston North End), Paul Gascoigne (Newcastle, Spurs, Middlesbrough) , Jimmy Greaves (Spurs), Johnny Haynes (Fulham), Kevin Keegan (Liverpool, Southampton, Newcastle) , Denis Law (Manchester United, Manchester City), Nat Lofthouse (Bolton Wanderers), Dave Mackay (Spurs), Stanley Matthews (Stoke City, Blackpool) , Bobby Moore (West Ham United), Bryan Robson (West Bromwhich Albion, Manchester United)

Peter Shilton (Leicester City, Stoke City, Nottingham Forest) ;Billy Wright (Wolverhampton Wanderers)

Women's Player: Lily Parr (Dick Kerr's Ladies)

Managers: Sir Matt Busby (Manchester United), Brian Clough (Derby County, Nottingham Forest) , Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United), Bob Paisley (Liverpool), Sir Alf Ramsey (Ipswich, England), Bill Shankly (Liverpool)

Sir Bobby will unveil the inductees at The National Football Museum on Monday 4th November 2002 at 12pm (Midday).

The inductees, or a member of their surviving family, will then be welcomed into The National Football Museum 'Hall of Fame' at a major event to be held at the Museum on Sunday December 1st, 2002. Guests at this event will tour the Museums exhibitions from 6.30pm before attending a gala presentation dinner at 8pm.