BLACKPOOL Charity Football Club is looking to the stars to avoid complete annihilation as players face up to an All Star XI.

The opposition, gathered together by the Prince's Trust for the special game, includes a few names you might just recognise. Ex-England internationals Joe Corrigan and Sammy Lee will line-up alongside former Northern Ireland and Blackpool favourite Derek Spence and former Preston star Roy Tunks - not your typical Sunday league players.

BCFC's vice chairman Chris Giles is understandably a bit worried, as he told the Citizen: "We have been trying to get in contact with several ex-professionals ourselves to avoid getting utterly annihilated!"

It's a race against time until kick-off on May 30, when the match will take place at Blackpool Mechanics' ground at 2pm. Tickets for the game will cost around £3.

BCFC was established in 1998 by current chairman Alberto Capel to raise money to fund a Playscheme Project for disabled children in the Blackpool area. Alberto's son Darren, ten, has severe physical and learning difficulties himself and he, and children like him, benefit from the new project which enables them to get out of their usual environment and enjoy a welcome break from routine by visiting local attractions. Next season, the football club will launch its Grand-A-Goal appeal, which is a sponsorship-based plan whereby the team is sponsored for each goal scored.

Chris explained: "We don't really expect to get £1,000 a goal but we expect to kick the season off on around £100 a goal which means we should raise between £5,000 and £7,500 by the end of the season." If the team's last match is anything to go by, they should certainly raise plenty of money after winning 12-5!

The club is also looking for firms to sponsor two kits for the coming season and anyone interested in this, or in supporting the Grand-A-Goal scheme can call Chris on 01253 761426.

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