Ex-Rovers boss Gould set for his toughest assignment yet

Bobby Gould is to come out of retirement in support of a one-off charity football event later this month.

The former Bristol Rovers striker and manager, pictured, who lives in Portishead, has agreed to act as a mentor when a Bristol football legends team takes on a celebrity XI at the Hand Stadium in Clevedon on March 21 to help raise funds for Children's Hospice South West.

Billed as 'The Battle of Wraxall', the event has attracted a host of big names from the world of professional sport and television. And Gould will be called upon to put the celebrities through their paces as they bid to cause an upset against a legends side, which includes former Bristol City stars Mark Shail, Alan Walsh and Scott Murray.

Ex-Rovers favourites David Mehew and Jamie Cureton have also agreed to play and they will line-up alongside former Scottish international John Wark in a team managed by one-time City boss and defender Russell Osman.

Former Wales manager Gould is charged with the task of tutoring Bristol boxers Glenn Catley and Danny Butler, ex-England and Gloucestershire cricketer David 'Syd' Lawrence and rugby union stars Mark Regan and Jonathan Webb.

Event organiser Mark Jakeways said: "I've managed to land the legends and the celebrities and now all I have to do is fill the stadium with 3,000 people.

"While the task of raising money for such a worthwhile cause is a serious business, the accent will of course be on having fun on the day.

"I'm not sure what Bobby Gould will make of his celebrities, but I know the legends are looking forward to Jane Couch (former women's world boxing champion) acting as sponge-man!"

The game is scheduled to kick-off at 2.30pm and tickets are available from Wilfred and Alice Gift Shop, 26 Alexandra Road, Clevedon (tel: 01275 542167), Beaufort Motor Co, Wyckbeck Road, Henbury, Bristol (0117 9500282), Yaskin Sports, Unit 19120, Hither Green Industrial Estate, Clevedon (01275 340304), Children's Hospice South West, Charlton Farm, Charlton Drive, Wraxall (01275 8666600), Arcadia Housing, Station Road, Worle, Weston-Super-Mare (01934 524300), Clevedon Town FC, Hand Stadium, Davies Lane (01275 871600) Mark Walker at mark.walker68@btinternet.com, Mark Jakeways at mark-jakeways@btinternet.com and the ticket hotline on 07799 883057.