Match made in Hell

Next week a host of legendary footballers take on a motley-crew of celebrities as part of a one-off reality TV show.

14:01 04 October 2004

Next week a host of legendary footballers take on a motley-crew of celebrities as part of a one-off reality TV show.

Sky One's The Match - or 'mismatch' - kicked off last night, with a squad of players assembled from the world of music, soaps and general obscurity, all put through their paces by former England coach Graham Taylor.

Ex-Steps member Lee Latchford Evans, So Solid Crew's Harvey, DJ Dane Bowers and actors Gary Lucy and Ralph Little are among the names hoping to take on former greats such as Paul Gascoigne, Peter Beardsley and Bryan Robson in a one-off charity match at Newcastle's St James's Park on October 10th.

And with tubby Bowers, gangster rapper Harvey and co all having irked sections of the general public in recent times, any expected support could go out the window whey they come up against renowned hard men such as Robson and fellow ex-Manchester United star Gary Pallister.

Yesterday's opening programme, hosted by Ulrika Jonsson and Mark Durden-Smith, got underway with an introduction to the 18-strong squad, before the competitors entered Newcastle's state-of-the-art Football Academy, where they will live and train under the watchful eye of Taylor.

And it was not long before Taylor - dubbed a 'turnip' during his turbulent reign as England boss - had to get tough with the pampered celebs, warning Bowers that he will "not be crossed" after a bout of tardiness on the training pitch.

Meanwhile former premiership goalkeeper Mark Bosnich, who will be in goal for the celebs, looked a pale and bloated imitation of his former, talented self.

The Aussie quit the demanding "bleep test" - an endurance trial - after just a few minutes and it came as little surprise when he admitted to having not trained since being fired from Chelsea nearly two years ago after testing positive for cocaine.

The programme's format means that viewers can help decide the squad's fate.

Each night Taylor will nominate three celebrities who haven't been pulling their weight to face an interactive public vote. The celebrity with the fewest votes is relegated from the team.

At the end of the week's training, the team will be selected from the remaining squad.