Premier League's greatest ever match to be ''restaged''

kinaldo

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2009/02/12/premier-league-s-greatest-ever-match-to-be-restaged-72703-22913311/

THE Entertainers are coming to town to strut their majestic stuff.

No, Mike Ashley is not making a massive transfer market plunge in the close season to return us all to the grand old days.

It’s the original Entertainers who are reforming one last time to parade before the Toon Army.

The likes of Alan Shearer, Peter Beardsley, Les Ferdinand, Philippe Albert and David Ginola are to turn back the clock to the mid-90s and play Liverpool’s stars of the day on Sunday, October 11.

The idea is a throwback to what was voted the greatest match ever witnessed in the Premier League, the 4-3 epic with Liverpool at Anfield in April, 1996.

And the match, which will probably be televised live, is almost certain to be transferred to the appropriate setting of St James’s Park. A double charity celebration with a gala dinner the night before the game is being organised by Tim Cantle-Jones, the managing director of Urbon Event Management and the driving force behind Boots For Africa.

Money raised will be split between The Children’s Foundation, which is raising cash to provide world-class facilities for the new Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle, and the Alder Hey Imagine Appeal based in Liverpool.

Phil Thompson, the former assistant manager at Anfield and now a top Sky Sports pundit, is putting together the Liverpool squad.

“It all came about after a Boots For Africa lunch at St James’s Park when I was chatting with our guest of honour Les Ferdinand,” explained Cantle-Jones.

“We’ve had an initial meeting with the club and I’m pretty confident we will be able to play at St James’s Park, where of course it ought to be. The timing is perfect because there are no Premier League matches that weekend which means that Sky Television are interested in showing it live.”

United hope to field Alan Shearer, Rob Lee, Peter Beardsley, John Beresford, David Ginola, Lee Clark, Steve Watson, Robbie Elliott, Steve Howey, Paul Bracewell, Andy Cole and Philippe Albert.

“The big challenge is to try and get Tino Asprilla over from Colombia,” admitted Cantle-Jones. “He’s a legend, a real fan favourite. We’re already making inroads into bringing him across.”

Tino and Ginola were ball masters who thrilled the crowd while Sir Les and Andy Cole rattled in the goals and Alan Shearer went on to become United’s all-time record goalscorer, overtaking Wor Jackie’s grand total.

Liverpool have already had a ‘yes’ from stars such as Jamie Redknapp, Ian Rush, Neil Ruddock, Mark Wright, John Scales, Phil Babb, Steve McManaman, Michael Thomas, Patrick Berger, Rob Jones and Jason McAteer.

The colourful Bruce Grobelaar, a European Cup winner, will keep goal with David James expected to be on England duty at the time.

The Entertainers swept United from the brink of the old Third Division to within a whisker of winning the Premier League championship and were hailed across the land as every neutral’s favourite team to watch on the telly.

“Their flamboyant attacking style was electric and, if you remember, not only did we play out an epic 4-3 at Anfield but went back the next year and did exactly the same,” said Cantle-Jones. “That has made this charity match a natural which will capture the imagination of the fans in the way it has the players.”

Caroline O’Dohery, the operations director for the Children’s Foundation, added: “We’re delighted and hugely grateful to have been chosen as the main benefactor for the Entertainers game.”

Ticket details for both the celebration dinner and the match will be announced in due course.

dfx-

0-0 draw tbh

mike65

Thats got to be the game of the decade - this decade :pac:

This better be on Sky One

Limerick Dude

Pretty class!

kinaldo

^^^^ I have that Ginola top

I can't watch that 4th Liverpool goal anymore, the defending just seems to get worse everytime!

keane2097

That was some game...

therecklessone

Should be a good laugh, and all in a good cause. I've a mate organised a slightly lower-key affair between two teams of Spurs and Arsenal retired pros recently, he said that some of the lads had really let themselves go...:D

Arsenal won 4-2...:o

Idu

I didnt think Shearer was at Newcastle at that stage and Cole was at United

whatawaster

Surely Rob Jones must be injured?

yahoo_moe

Idu wrote: »

I didnt think Shearer was at Newcastle at that stage and Cole was at United

I'd say they're just trying to bump up the interest levels - obviously anything that involves Shearer will be more popular than anything without him.

Though with Ferdinand, Shearer, Beardsley, Ginola and possibly Asprilla already, you'd think they might skip on another forward player in Andy Cole - or maybe they're just staying true to Keegan's style

Can't wait - that Liverpool-Everton FA Cup restaging a couple of years ago was fun.