Wanderers’ Euro fighters will be out in force in the All Star team to play in next month’s Gethin Jones MND charity match.
A team of former players – managed by legendary ex-Whites’ boss Sam Allardyce – will take on the current Wanderers squad at the University of Bolton Stadium on Sunday, 14 November (KO 1pm).
Super strikers Kevin Davies and John McGinlay have been working hard behind the scenes to help put together a classy old-boys’ team to play in the match which will raise funds to go towards treatment and care for Karen, the mother of Wanderers’ defender Jones, who has been diagnosed with MND.
And of the names so far confirmed, five of them played in Wanderers’ first ever European adventure.
Davies, Henrik Pedersen, Ricardo Gardner, Stelios Giannakopoulos and goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen were all part of Allardyce’s squad which finished sixth in the Premier League and then famously advanced to the knock-out stage of the 2005/06 UEFA Cup.
In addition, Iceland international and defensive king-pin Gudni Bergsson, midfield maestro Alan Thompson and wing wizard David Lee – who all helped Wanderers win promotion to the Premier League – will be pulling their boots on again with further names to follow.
“It looks like it’s going to be a fantastic turn-out of Wanderers’ legends and I’m really grateful for the effort Kevin and John and everyone has put in so far,” said Jones.
“I’m sure the fans will love seeing some of those great players back out on the pitch and Sam Allardyce in the dug-out.
“As a family, we are over-whelmed at the response of the supporters who have bought tickets so far and thank them for their support.
“It’s going to be a special day which hopefully everyone will enjoy – on and off the pitch.”
The black-tie fund-raising dinner being staged the previous evening has sold out.
Hospitality is available for the match, priced at £65.00 per adult, £50.00 for under 12s for a two-course meal, car parking and match programme.
Please contact 01204 673761 or email sales@bwfc.co.uk to book places or for more information.
The match is being sponsored by South Stand and official training wear sponsor ‘Franking Sense’, whose name will appear on the All Stars team shirts which will be auctioned off afterwards in the aid of the fund-raising efforts.
Tickets, including for the West Stand Lower Tier, are on sale priced £10 and £5 HERE
The appeal is aiming to raise a total of £250,000, with 25 per cent of the funds going to the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation to aid its work in supporting research into the condition and in recognition of the help and support given to the Jones family by former Bolton defender Darby – who also suffers from MND.