Professional and ex-professional footballers are set to play the first fixture at the college's new £1 million football pitch.
On Wednesday 13 April 2011, Accrington and Rossendale College (accross) is welcoming a host of professional and ex-professional football stars from clubs such as Galatasary, West Ham, Blackburn Rovers and Everton to their state of the art campus, for a star-studded football match to officially launch its new £1 million FIFA quality 3G astro turf football pitch.
The match, which is expected to attract people of all ages, kicks off at 2pm and is open to the public and is free to attend, but people are being asked to call or email to reserve a place. Food and refreshments will also be available to purchase on the day.
The well-known faces will either play for the College's accross XI or the Puma XI, sponsors of the College's award-winning Football Academies. The two teams will battle it out in this, the first ever fixture on the new facilities.
The confirmed teams are:
accross XI
- Manager - TBC
- John Coleman - Accrington Stanley's hugely successful manager, one of the most prolific strikers in non-league football of all time.
- Paul Lodge - Former Everton, Bolton and Barrow Midfielder and Accross Boys Academy Head Coach.
- Mike Marsh - No stranger to the college, the former Liverpool Midfielder who had spells at Galatasary, Coventry and West Ham was the first ever Boys Academy Head Coach at the college.
- Martin Fearon - Lancaster City Goalkeeper who was the first ever Accrington Stanley player to get a professional contract through the Accross Sports Department.
- Alan Burton - Pro at Accrington Stanley, a midfielder that has come through the Scholar system, educated at the college.
- Chris Turner - Pro at Accrington Stanley, the star winger that has come through the Scholar system, educated at the college.
- Peter Murphy - Pro at Accrington Stanley, the defender that has come through the Scholar system, educated at the college.
- Nat Taylor - accross Boys Academy captain who is closely linked with several football league clubs and is expected to be the first pro player from the Boys Academy system, an England Colleges international.
- Jordan Rimmer - The ASFC youth team captain who is currently undertaking the education element of his scholarship at the college.
- Ashley Hoskin - Ex Stanley star who is now reserve team manager at Burnley FC.
- Competition Winner - The winner of the telegraph competition
- Further names to be announced...
Puma XI
- Manager - Mark Fell -Head of Sport at accross and Preston North End Youth Coach
- Kevin Gallacher - The Blackburn Rovers and Scotland legend will captain the Puma team, as well as being one of the speakers at the sportsman's dinner.
- Andy Taylor - Puma's Account Executive who returned to the UK 18 months ago after a 4 year scholarship with Oklahoma University, currently playing in the Blue Square Conference with Vauxhall Motors.
- Junior Bent - Former Blackpool and Huddersfield Winger who is currently part of the youth coaching set-up at PNE.
- Andy Lyons - Full Back who had an illustrious career at clubs such as Wigan, Partick Thistle and Ayr United.
- Phil Hickinbottom - One of Puma's Account Executives currently playing semi-professionally in the midlands.
- Ciaran Donnelly - An England U21 captain who was one of the stars of Simon Grayson's Blackpool team that stormed through league 1 into the Championship. Ciaran currently playing at Blue Square Premier club Barrow, will play in the centre of midfield.
- John Doolan - Ex Doncaster, Blackpool and Rochdale Midfielder
- Graham Atkinson - Former Preston North End Midfielder
- Ryan Hallworth - Accross Boys Academy goalkeeper
- Tom Anderton - Accross boys Academy Midfield Player
- Competition Winner - The winner of the telegraph competition
- Further names to be announced...
Tickets are also available to a sports persons dinner taking place at 7pm on Wednesday 13 April at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel. With guest speaker Kevin Gallacher, a comedian and a special guest to be announced, a three course meal, an auction of sporting memorabilia and more, the event is sure to sell out fast. Tickets cost £30 each or £250 for a table of ten.
To Book
To book FREE tickets for the celebrity football match or to book tickets for the Sports Person's Dinner, hosted at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel, contact Amy Haslam at Accrington and Rossendale College on 01254 354122 or email ahaslam@accross.ac.uk