The Roly Howard Testimonial - My day with the stars!

Marine 94 Champs 4 Liverpool/Everton Legends 1

Sunday April 24 will long live in my memory because this was the day I pulled on full kit and played with the legends I watched when I was growing up. Marine - a Unibond Premier League team have had a manager for the past 33 years named Roly Howard. A world record and a top man too.

Well I follow Marine's results every week. I've written a couple of articles for their match day programme this season as well. Anyway Roly's testimonial game was between their championship side of 1994 and a mix of Liverpool and Everton legends. The Marine forum expressed a wish for some fans to pay a small testimonial fee to play for the final fifteen minutes of the game. I jumped at the chance of course and was accepted.

I got to the ground an hour before kick off and went in only to be asked for autographs - poor kids didn't know who I was but I obliged anyway with the autographs. I went in to get changed to find Gary Ablett already inside. Then the legends slowly arrived - John Aldridge, Gary Gillespie, Mark Lawrenson, John Durnin, David Fairclough, Michael Thomas, Alan Kennedy. Also along were ex-blues such as Paul Lodge. Here I am limbering up for a game along side heroes of by days growing up. Everyone one of them welcomed me in and David Johnson signed me up and named me on the bench for the game.

Out I ran for the warm up and then took my place on the bench for the first half. Premiership ref Chris Foy was fourth official and Uriah Rennie was in charge of proceedings. The first half though saw the Marine side take a 2-0 lead including one from the spot. Roly was made up on the opposition bench.

Half time and we went back to the dressing room. The legends took on fluids and Jaffa cakes to get prepared for the second half. I again started on the bench but just five minutes into the half and I was on, replacing the son of Gary Gillespie. Ryan had played well in the game it must be said.

Here's my big chance all of a sudden and within minutes Chris Foy had me in the book. Foy had come out to ref the second half whilst Uriah took the fourth official role. My debut and I'm booked - diving!

The game was end to end and I must admit to feeling tired but there was no way I was coming off. I got into the game a bit and the legends helped me through it as well with advice and what have you.

The game finished 4-1 to Marine but I didn't care about the result much I'd just played with Legends from both sides. A day I'll never forget that's for sure. And here's a few of the pictures of the day.

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