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Wednesday, 29 February 2012

Formers Players to Honour Speed


A host of former Wales football internationals will honour Gary Speed at the late manager's memorial match.

Ryan Giggs, John Hartson, Mark Hughes, Neville Southall and Robbie Savage are among up to 50 stars to be introduced at half-time on Wednesday night.

Wales will play Costa Rica with 21,000 tickets sold by Wednesday lunchtime for the match at the Cardiff City Stadium.

The Wales manager's body was found hanged in the garage at his home near Chester last November.

The coroner at his inquest said he could not be satisfied the 42-year-old former Premier League star intended to kill himself.

The Football Association of Wales has said it wants the fixture to be a celebration of Speed's life.

Welsh musicians including Super Furry Animals, Bryn Terfel and Only Men Aloud will also perform ahead of the match.

A number of charities will also benefit from the match after being nominated by Speed's family.

Cancer support charity MacMillan and the Campaign Against Living Miserably (Calm), which looks to help reduce suicides among men under 35, will benefit financially from the match.

The Daisy Garland, a charity involved with lives touched by epilepsy and Wrexham FC under-15 boys academy, where Speed's son Ed is a member, will also benefit.

The Craig Bellamy Foundation in Sierra Leone - set up by the Liverpool player who will captain Wales for the game - has asked for a donation of playing kit and equipment.

Former international Matthew Jones will also be completing a half-marathon at the stadium and collecting funds for the Spinal Injuries Association.

He will be competing in full marathons in the future, having originally been encouraged to do so by Speed.

Following Speed's death last year, there was an outpouring of grief in the footballing community.

Fans at grounds around the country took part in tributes to the former Welsh captain, who played for a number of Premier League clubs, including Leeds, Newcastle, Everton, and Bolton, and managed Sheffield United.

PRE-MATCH ENTERTAINMENT
18:40 GMT: Fourth St Traffic
18:55: Super Furry Animals
19:20: Mike Peters
19:30: Bryn Terfel with the Risca Male Voice Choir