A HOST of football legends including Saints manager Gordon Strachan will pull on their boots this week for a charity football match.

Matthew Le Tissier, Neil Webb, Jimmy Case, Kevin Dillon, Mark Dennis and Alan Knight are all supporting the Wessex Cancer Trust and are signed up for the game between an ex-Southampton XI and an ex-Reading XI on Friday night.

The cancer trust has made a pledge to raise the final £205,000 needed to complete a new oncology unit at the North Hampshire Hospital, in Basingstoke, by the end of this year. Basingstoke police officers, who hope to raise £50,000 towards the Southampton-based trust's Brighter Days Appeal, will play the game at The Camrose, in Basingstoke.

The planned new unit will provide privacy and dignity for patients and their loved ones - facilities which can be vital for a patient's recovery. Space will also be made available for children to visit so they are comfortable and do not disturb others on the ward.

The unit will consist of single rooms with en-suite facilities so that vulnerable patients can be isolated, therefore removing the risk of exposure and infection. Co-ordinator Sue Williams for the Basingstoke Brighter Days Appeal on behalf of the Wessex Cancer Trust, praised the efforts of Basingstoke police.

She said: "I don't know what I would do without them. What they are doing is absolutely wonderful for me and for the Wessex Cancer Trust and for the ward because this will be a huge boost to the funds."

During the second half of the match the professional players will be joined by local residents Daniel Winterbourne and Steve Colvin who have both raised £750 and £500 respectively to play with their heroes. Daniel is a lifelong Saints supporter and Steve is a fan of Reading FC. Kick-off is at 7.30pm, gates open 6pm).

Tickets cost £1 for under 16s, £3 for adults and are available on the gate or from Basingstoke police station or by contacting 01256 405021.