Stars to raise cash at Soccer Aid

by Kev Geoghegan
Radio 1 Newsbeat reporter

Former West Ham player Poalo Di Canio squares up to TV host Patrick Kielty during a training session

Alan Shearer, Teddy Sheringham and Jamie Rednapp will line up alongside celebs like Craig David, Gareth Gates and Patrick Kielty for Soccer Aid on Sunday.

The English stars will kick off against a rest of the world team at Wembley Stadium, captained by telly chef Gordon Ramsay.

Two years ago, the international game raised £2.6 million for UNICEF.

It was organised by showbiz best mates Robbie Williams and Jonathan Wilkes.

Williams is out through injury this time but football loving stars like McFly's Danny Jones have been drafted in.

Jones told Newsbeat: "It's amazing, just amazing. I walked into the dressing room and I saw the shirt with Jones on the back and got tingles.

"Then, next to me was Rednapp, Le Saux, Sherringham and Shearer. I'm part of it and it's just mad."

The rest of the world team is a wounded beast and they want to get their revenge Gethin Jones

The England team will also include Harry Potter's school bully Draco Malfoy played by Tom Felton and Hollyoaks' Chris Fountain plus old pros David Seaman and Des Walker.

On managerial duties Portsmouth boss Harry Rednapp said he was going to take it easy on the celebrities during their early training sessions.

He added: "They've got to play on Sunday, you don't want them them coming out on Sunday completely knackered and they can hardly walk."

World class players

Two years ago, goals for Jonathan Wilkes and Les Ferdinand gave the England team a 2-1 victory.

Robbie Williams took part in Soccer Aid 2006 which raised nearly £3m

Argentinian legend Diego Maradona tucked away a consolation penalty for the rest of the world team.

Welsh former Blue Peter presenter Gethin Jones, who also came third on Strictly Come Dancing, reckons the international squad have a score to settle.

He said: "The rest of the world team is a wounded beast and they want to get their revenge on Sunday. So I think there's going to be some hunger and maybe we can turn it round. I'm going for a 2-1 victory to us."

Jones will play alongside celeb teammates like cricketer Brian Lara, former Labour spin-doctor Alistair Campbell, TV host Angus Deayton and Brazilian 300 star Rodrigo Santoro.

Their team will be bolstered by world class players like Peter Schmeichel, Paolo Di Canio, Romario and Portuguese star Luis Figo.

Jones said: "You learn the lesson that when people ask if you are any good at football you say, 'not really' and they're pleasantly surprised.

"When you are playing with world class players, they actually make you look good because you can ping the ball anywhere near them and they'll make it look like a good pass."

The live event is being hosted by Ant & Dec from 6pm on Sunday on ITV1, with tickets still available at the turnstiles.