A host of Town fans’ favourites will take to the field to raise vital funds for West Suffolk Hospital’s Forget-Me-Not Dementia campaign during a special charity match on Sunday 18th May.
The hotly-contested game will see a squad of 17 fundraisers line up for the hospital’s Forget-Me-Not FC against a team of Ipswich Town legends, which is set to include, amongst others, John Wark, Russell Osman, Simon Milton, Kieron Dyer, Shane Supple, Darren Currie, Jason Dozzell and Alan Lee.
The fans taking part have each paid £100 for the privilege, with funds raised split between the Forget-Me-Not Dementia campaign, which aims to raise £25,000 to improve care for patients with dementia, and the Ipswich Town Academy. Three other keen footballers - Steve Roberts, Kevin Bowman-Boyles and Martin Beecroft — have each paid £200 to be part of the Legends squad.
The game kicks off at 3pm at Bury Town’s Ram Meadow ground. Tickets are priced £10 adults and £5 children, and are available on the day with gates opening at 1pm.
An auction of the signed legends' shirts will take place at 5.30pm, while there will also be a chance to win a new Town home and away shirt, signed by Mick McCarthy's squad.
Dave Gooderham, fundraising manager at West Suffolk Hospital Charity, said: "We wanted to offer members of the public the chance to get up close to some real Ipswich Town legends, whether playing or getting autographs and photos, while raising vital charity funds at the same time.
"We hope as many people as possible will pop down to Ram Meadow on Sunday and enjoy some entertaining football while supporting some very worthwhile charities."
Proceeds from the licensed bar and hot food will go towards Bury Town, while a cake stall will raise money for national charity, Lewy Body Dementia.
Meanwhile, the Hospital is also running a virtual auction to win an Ipswich Town shirt signed by top scorer David McGoldrick.
All proceeds for this particular auction item will be split between the hospital’s Rainbow Ward and Zack’s Fund, set up by the family of Zack Nicholls, a three-year-old boy who has Ewings Sarcoma, the second most common form of bone cancer in children.
Anyone who would like to bid on the shirt should submit their entry to dave.gooderham@wsh.nhs.uk. The auction closes at 6pm on Sunday 18th May.
Legends squad from: Shane Supple, Simon Milton, John Wark, Jason Dozzell, James Scowcroft, Fabian Wilnis, Darren Currie, Kevin Horlock, Kieron Dyer, Alan Lee, Steve McGavin, Gavin Johnson, Jermaine Wright, John McGreal, Russell Osman, Richard Logan.