Celebs on the ball for club's big day
By Emily Pykett

Monday 4th July 2005

HUNDREDS of football fans cheered on sporting legends and soap stars who graced the pitch at Weymouth's very own masters tournament.

Delighted supporters got the chance to meet and greet celebrity sportsmen Neil `Razor' Ruddock, Mark Bright, Neville Southall, Kerry Dixon and Tony Cottee as well as popular actors from television programmes EastEnders, Hollyoaks and Emmerdale.

Ex-Terras players from the 1980s and 1990s made a welcome return in claret and blue to compete against squads from Dorchester Town and Yeovil at the Wessex Stadium yesterday.

They included Shaun Teale, Tony Agana, Paul Arnold, Paul Morrell, Anni Iannone, Ashley Doidge, Mark Baber, Peter Conning, Brian Benjafield, Peter Johnson, Stewart Kern and Willie Gibson. Also pitching in were John Waldock, Alex Browne, Simon Browne, Mark Robinson, Matt Hale, Andy Mason, Paul Myers, Paul Gadsby, David Laws, Darren Powell, Brendon King, Gavin Sandrey and Mick Greeno.

The Wessex Masters and International Legends tournament was the centrepiece of a fun day hosted by chairman Martyn Harrison in a bid to give the club a more hands-on role in the community.

It came after two pop and classical music concerts were staged on the pitch to raise extra cash to boost club funds.

About 500 people flocked to the Radipole Lane ground for the official launch of the new Terras kit for the 2005-2006 season and were treated to performances from funky new girl bands, Cookie and Clea.

They were invited to take part in penalty shoot-outs and other competitions with the players and enjoyed a fun fair, donkey rides and side shows.

Weymouth Football Club fan Dave Parsons hit the jackpot when he scooped £1,000 in a draw organised by the supporters club.

Mr Harrison said he saw the day as an opportunity for fans to meet the team for the forthcoming season and size up the new signings as well as the legends of yesteryear.

He added: "This was a great community day at the club, giving the fans a taste of things to come.

"And for the people of Weymouth who are not so familiar with the Terras, it hopefully gave them a chance to see what we have to offer them."