Former Boro and Spain star Gaizka Mendieta is reminding fans that time is running out to bid to play alongside him at the Riverside Stadium in a charity match for Teesside Hospice.

There’s been a late change of line-up for the game with Boro legend Craig Hignett stepping in to replace Bryan Robson as the player-manager who will lead a team against Mendieta’s side on the evening if Monday May 18.

To give potential players the chance to get their bids in, Teesside Hospice has extended the deadline to bid to play in the game by two days to 12 midday on Thursday May 7.
Supporters can live the dream by making the highest bids to Teesside Hospice, giving them the chance to play alongside Mendieta and Hignett.

Winning bidders will change in the Riverside dressing rooms, have a pre-match teamtalk from Hignett or Mendieta, run on to the pitch to Boro’s Pigbag theme tune and take part in the match alongside the midfield legends.

Ex-World Cup referee George Courtney will be in charge of the game, while teams and goalscorers will be announced over the stadium PA system and electronic scoreboards.
Spectators including friends and family are welcome to attend for a donation to Teesside Hospice.

All funds raised will go towards Teesside Hospice’s annual running costs of £1.9m, of which only about a third are covered by the NHS.

It will be 35-year-old Mendieta’s first game at the Riverside since a Barclays Premier League match against Blackburn in September 2006, while Hignett played his last professional games for Hartlepool at the same time, though he has appeared for Billingham Synthonia this season.

Wannabe Boro stars can bid now to play in set positions in the fans’ match by emailing bids to Teesside Hospice at charitymatch@holynameandstthomasmore.org.uk

Bidders should put the position and number of minutes they would like to play in the title of their email.

Bids can also be made to be a mascot for the match with six places available, while £10 will also secure a child’s place as a ball boy or ball girl.

Top bids can be checked on Boro’s official website at www.mfc.co.uk.

Teesside Hospice are grateful to local firm MSV Sport for generously agreeing to supply all kit for the game and to The Knights Club for sponsoring one of the teams.

Media Information

For further information please contact Dave Allan on 07711 025 009 or via email at charitymatch@holynameandstthomasmore.org.uk