By Leicester Mercury | Posted: April 11, 2014
A fund-raising football tournament featuring former Leicester City players, Mercury reporters and staff and students from De Montfort University takes place this weekend.
The charity competition, being played at the Greene King Stadium in Hinckley on Sunday, aims to raise cash for LOROS and Wishes 4 Kids.
Ex-Foxes favourites including Muzzy Izzet, Steve Walsh, Gerry Taggart and Julian Joachim will make up the Leicester Legends team.
Former League Cup winner Gerry said: "I've been doing this since I retired – since about 2006 – and it's always a great atmosphere and a chance for the old boys to get together.
"The flipside is that we raise some money for charity and help some worthy causes."
Muzzy, 39, who helped Turkey to a third place finish in the 2002 World Cup, said: "I'm really pleased to be raising money for a superb local charity, Wishes 4 Kids, for which I'm proud to be patron.
"The charity grants wishes for sick and terminally-ill children and offers a brief glimpse of respite for the children and their families.
"As players with our own families, we all empathise with the children's stories and we just try to do our best to help."
Hoping to put a dent in the Legends' undefeated record are Mercury reporter Peter Warzynski, business editor Ian Griffin and production designer Kevin Skeemer in the Mercury side.
Player-coach Peter, 33, said: "It's quite daunting to think that most of the Legends are ex-Premiership and League Cup-winning professional footballers – and Muzzy Izzet has even played in a World Cup!
"But I'd like to predict a massive upset – I think we're going to be incredibly upset when we're beaten 20-0!
"It's all for two great causes though and the most important thing is raising cash for charity, so please come along and support us."
Finally, De Montfort University's vice-chancellor Dominic Shellard will captain a DMU side.
The three sides will play each other once, with the victorious team being presented with a special trophy named by Mercury readers.
University midfielder Ross Harrison said: "The opportunity to play against former players is an honour."
Former Tigers star Steve Booth is making his debut, while Legends manager Tom Naughton is making his 101st.
Tom said: "When I started out, the Birch was still playing, that's how long we've been going, but we've never played the Mercury, so it will be great to finally get that game done."
Everyone is welcome to the event, which starts at midday and finishes at 5pm.
There will also be a raffle for signed football shirts and footballs. Entry is £2 for adults and £1 for under 16s.
