PORTLAND United players past and present will again turn out in force for the Blues’ annual charity Boxing Day fixture, in aid of Dorset charity the Three Ells Trust (11am).

Current first-team manager Brendon King and Nick Preston will assemble squads of players to contest the occasion as King’s ‘All-Stars’ face Preston’s ‘Old Boys’ at the Weyline Stadium.

The encounter is a repeat of last-season’s friendly which saw the All-Stars take a 4-1 victory courtesy of a Mark Robinson brace plus goals from Harry Richardson and Lewis Whyton, while Preston himself scored a late consolation for his side.

Preston and King are again set to dust off their boots alongside first-team assistant-manager Mark ‘Reggie’ Carter and first-team coach Stuart heath plus former boss Chris Wilson.

Sanchez Baker, Whyton, Ian Hutchinson, Robinson, Adam Anstey and reserves’ boss Justin Faulkner may also take part.

Organiser Darren Whyton is set to take to the field, with the likes of Andy Turrell, Adam and Dan Skelton, Steve Alcock, Paul Gadsby, Willie Gibson, Morris Welch, Nigel Evans, Mark and Alan Rogers, Danny Nash, George Carter, Lloyd Cranny, Kern Forden, Pat Reader and Andy Rosewell also confirmed.

Darren Whyton hinted there could also be an appearance from Alex Halloran and other current first and reserve-team members in need of match minutes.

He told Echosport: “Brendon has got no problem with it, it doesn’t get too serious. I’m trying to see if he can release a couple of players.

“Alex might come in and have a run – we’re hoping to get a couple of first-teamers to freshen it up. A few of the third team might play in it. We generally play a couple of young players.”

While Whyton is relishing the footballing side of the game, he was left in no doubt as to the importance of the fundraiser, which last year accumulated £995 for the Three Ells Trust.

He said: “From my point of view, the main reason to do it is to raise money for the Three Ells Trust. It’s a charity close to everyone’s hearts at the football club.

“They raise a lot of money for a lot of deprived children, kids with cancer and the little things they do. It’s good for the area.

“I’ve organised this for 15 years, it gets the people out on Boxing Day and quite a lot of the older players dust off their boots. Hopefully we get a good crowd.”

The clubhouse bar opens at 10am, with kick-off at 11am. A collection bucket will be passed round during the contest, for which two linesmen are still required to officiate alongside referee Royston Mitchell.

First-team boss King added: “It’s a good day out for everybody and it’s for a fantastic local charity which is associated with a lot of people from Portland United Football Club.

“That’s one that’s close to our hearts up there. If you’re at a loose end on Boxing Day and you want some fresh air to walk the turkey off, have a couple of beers and watch a load of old people try and kick a ball about go on up there.”

n The match will be sponsored by Travis Perkins

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