WITH such an important date at St Mary's tonight you'd hardly think he'd have time to put his feet up.

But Saints legend Matt Le Tissier - guest of honour at tonight's England v Macedonia Euro 2004 qualifier - found a moment to help out a Hampshire charity by testing this £1,580 armchair.

The La-Z-Boy chair - with a Saints shirt upholstered on the back, signed by Matt and all the current players - is one of the top auction prizes at a ball in aid of Wessex Heartbeat.

Matt was keen to test out the chair - featuring drinks cooler and armrest telephone, six-point massage and heated lumbar support - before it goes under the hammer at the ball at Southampton's De Vere Grand Harbour Hotel next Friday.

The theme of the evening is Dream Night - because Wessex Heartbeat never dreamed it would raise £7m in the past ten years to support the cardiac unit at Southampton General Hospital.

As well as the chair, the 290 guests lucky enough to get their hands on tickets for the event - which was sold out on the night of last year's ball - have the chance to bid for top auction prizes including an £11,000 diamond bracelet donated by Picketts and Pursers in Southampton, a grand prix day and an original Rolf Harris painting.

The La-Z-Boy was donated by Derek Caplen of Dee Cee Upholstery in Portswood Road, Southampton.

He said: "I'm delighted to support my favourite charity in this way and I hope it will find a suitable home among the legions of Saints fans. Whether you're a professional or a tense football fan, the La-Z-Boy is a great aid to relax."

One of Britain's top show bands, The Alpha Connection, will provide the music at the ball, and Heartbeat is keeping the night's master of ceremonies a closely guarded secret.