Some of the top names in the world of sport have teamed up with a local football club to help raise funds to send young soccer players on an annual exchange trip to Holland.
Thirty-two 13 and 14-year-olds from Bradford-based Wyke Wanderers FC will take on their Dutch counterparts, De Treffers, of Groesbeek, in April in what will be the ninth exchange tournament between the two clubs.
An eight-strong Wyke Wanderers committee has been busy raising the £9,500 required to fund the trip and the campaign will culminate at a special charity event to be staged at Valley Parade, home of Bradford City FC, on Saturday.
A glittering array of auction prizes has been donated by sporting superstars and top-name soccer and rugby league clubs.
They include club shirts signed by Manchester United legends David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, Ruud Van Nistelroy, Fabian Barthez and Gary Neville, plus a Newcastle United shirt signed by Alan Shearer.
Beckham and Keane have also sent signed photographs, along with Eric Cantona, Michael Owen, Sir Bobby Charlton and Bradford's own pop superstar Gareth Gates.
Multi-signature shirts have come from Liverpool, Everton, Leeds United, Bradford City and Burnley football clubs, the Great Britain rugby league team, Bradford Bulls and St Helens rugby league clubs, while Huddersfield Town FC have donated a signed football.
In addition, top hurdler Colin Jackson has donated a signed Great Britain running vest, while a contribution from the FA signed by the England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson is also anticipated. Arriva Trains has chipped in with a number of free family rail tickets.
Wyke Wanderers FC field a total of 14 teams - from under-sevens upwards - in the Keybury Alarms Youth League, the Huddersfield BUPA Junior League, the Halifax Junior League and the Craven, Aire & Wharfedale Junior Soccer League.
Assistant manager Jez Gladman said: "We have had a superb response from some of the top names in sport, both past and present, who are obviously extremely willing to encourage today's young players and support an initiative that has done much to develop sporting and cultural links between West Yorkshire and Holland. The club's warmest thanks go to all who have donated auction prizes."
The final fund-raising event in the conference and banqueting facility at Bradford City FC, featuring a live band, disco and auction, kicks off at 7.30pm on January 25, with tickets priced at £10.
For those unable to attend, telephone bids for the auction prizes will also be accepted. Contact Jez Gladman on 0788 1876475 or Wyke Wanderers manager Mick Wainman on 0797 3382269.
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