By Daniel Ford
Past Tottenham Hotspur star players, including Argentinian World Cup winner Ozzie Ardiles and internationals such as Gary Mabbutt, Pascal Chimbonda and Michael Dawson, are heading to Eastbourne for a weekend of football in May.
The Tottenham Legends will be playing Eastbourne United on Sunday 25 May (2pm kick-off) while some of the players will be in the clubhouse on the Saturday night for a Q&A session.
The game is at the end of a season that celebrates United’s 130th anniversary since their formation in 1894 as the 1st Sussex Royal Engineers (Eastbourne) FC.
Other old boys from the Spurs provisional squad lined up for the weekend are familiar names such as Stephen Clemence, Mark Falco, David Howells, Steve Sedgeley, Clive Wilson, Paul McVeigh and Brian Statham.
The game comes after a £1 million redevelopment of the Oval Arena on Channel View Road, where United have played since 1947. Changes include a new 3G synthetic pitch, revamped dressing rooms, players’ lounge, parking and bar.
United are certainly no strangers to the great and the good from English football, having been managed by ex-England manager Ron Greenwood (1957) and former Charlton Athletic player Gordon Jago, who later managed QPR, Millwall and the USA national side.
In 1967, a West Ham United side led by England captain Bobby Moore visited the Oval and were watched by 2,000 people. Previously there have also been charity games against Chelsea and Arsenal (twice each) and also one against a celebrity football team made up of soap stars, singers and ex-pros to raise money for the club and local charities such as St Wilfrid’s Hospice.
Using his contacts from a career in the media and franchising, United’s commercial manager Richard Davies has put together the event to celebrate the club’s anniversary, showcase the new Ron Greenwood Suite (for hospitality) and raise money for MND, the motor neurone disease charity.
Davies said the club was “proud to host a charity football match against Spurs Legends – a celebration of sport, community and compassion”.
He added: “This event is about more than just football; it’s about uniting our community for a meaningful cause and raising vital funds for charity.”
After a disappointing start to the current season – when the Eastbourne side were forced to play their home fixtures at Newhaven while waiting for the ground redevelopment to be completed – they are now on a good run and pushing for a playoff place in the Southern Combination League as they look to gain promotion to the Isthmian League.
“It will be an incredible day for our young footballers who will have the chance to showcase their talents in this exhibition game and meet their heroes, making memories that will last a lifetime,” said Davies.
United usually attract crowds of a few hundred to their home games, although these have been on the rise this season thanks to the new facilities and a number of community initiatives to attract local people. The Spurs’ game, however, is sure to be a sell-out of the 2,000-capacity ground and will be an all-ticket occasion.
“This event is a testament to the power of sport to unite people, inspire the next generation and make a real difference in our community,” added Davies. “We are grateful for the incredible support that makes it all possible.”
It is hoped that Ardiles, the diminutive, tricky midfielder who lit up the 1978 World Cup in Argentina, will form part of the panel on the Saturday night with the much-admired England defender Gary Mabbutt, the latter lacing his boots for some Sunday afternoon action as well.
Players will be posing for photos, signing autographs and chatting to fans as the older generation explain to youngsters just how legendary these footballers are.
- Tickets for the Q&A are limited to 75 people and are priced at £45 (including entrance to the game the next day).
- Tickets for the game, which will be all-ticket, with a capacity of 2,000, and a price to be confirmed, will go on sale online shortly.
:: Daniel Ford is author of Fish, Chips & Football, a book covering a season of non-league football in and around Eastbourne. Copies can be ordered at www.chasemysnail.com
:: Main photo: Eastbourne United’s ground / Photo: Eastbourne United
