Cash turnstiles tonight for Tankie’s Battle

Friday 22 April 2016 Written by: Adam


The match is in aid of Paul Van-Zandvliet and associated good causes, Newcastle Falcons’ Premiership title-winning prop having recently received a diagnosis of inoperable brain cancer. Money raised from the evening will go a trust fund set up for Paul’s nine-year-old daughter, Hope-Elle, as well as related charities.

A team of Newcastle Falcons greats will take on a side made up of players from clubs across the North East, with the following squads having been named.

**NEWCASTLE FALCONS LEGENDS:** Stuart Grimes, Garath Archer, Micky Ward, Dave Walder, Steve O’Neill, Mike Wood, Gary Armstong, Dean Ryan, Jim Naylor, Stuart Legg, Jason Oakes, Michael Stephenson, James Cartmell, Phil Godman, Andy Perry, Ian Chandler, Carlo Antonio del Fava, Steve Douglas, Neil Franklin, Shaun Richardson, Martin Wilson, Joel Branagan, George Robson, Danny Brown, Pat Lam, John Fowler, Simon Mason, Ross Beattie, Billy Balshen.

**Attending but not playing:** George Graham, Mark Beattie, Ross Wilkinson, Hall Charlton, Jonny Wilkinson, Richard Metcalfe, Mark Wilkinson, Rob Andrew, Doddie Weir.

**NORTH-EAST SELECT:** Richard Lydiatt (Houghton), Ian Chandler, Graeme Clarkson, Fergus Mitchell, Steve Douglas, Matt Long (all ex-Gosforth), Noel Mather, Craig Tomlinson, Leon Smart, Neil Mather, Ross Bailey (all Whitley Bay Rockliff), Peter Carter (Sunderland), Shaun Cassidy (Middlesbrough), Lyndon Tweddle, Garry Hodgson, Greg Hayes (all Medicals), David Whitehead, Deano Laws (all Northern), Glen Teeley (Combined Police), Graeme Turnbull, Paul Richardson (all Ponteland), Paul Spowart, Mark Jackson, Greg Dixon (all Percy Park), David Carson (Hartlepool), Jo Coffey, Alan Rogers, Graham Crozier (all Gosforth), Paul Jackson, Paul Mooney, Dave Reed (all Morpeth), Andrew Wilkinson (Army), Craig Wrightson (Wallsend), Andrew Tucker (Guisborough), Mickey Wright (Newcastle Ravens), Neil Young (Redcar), Gareth Kerr (ex-Falcons academy), David Mackenzie, Dan McKay (all South Shields), Jack Liddle (Prudhoe and Stocksfield), Duncan Henderson (Ashington), Richard Elliot (Alnwick), Mike Hay.

Kicks off is at 7:45pm, with supporters housed in the main West Stand. Reserved seats are available by purchasing tickets from the stadium box office, with cash turnstiles in operation for those happy to sit on an unreserved basis in the end sections of the stand.

Tickets for these areas are priced at £10 for adults and £5 for under 16s, with reserved seats priced at £20 for adults and £5 for under 16s.

Concourse bars and turnstiles will open at 18:15 with the East Stand Tap & Tackle open all day from 10am.

Kicking off proceedings ahead of the game, Doddie Weir will be joined by a group of the legends on the West Stand concourse from 19:15 for a Q&A with supporters before the action relocates to the pitch.

Raising further funds for the trust, the Falcons club shop will also be open, selling a very limited number of Falcons Legends replica shirts.

Following the game, post-match entertainment will be provided by singer/keyboard player Marshy, lead singer of glam rockers The Sweet, Pete Lincoln and the original line up of “The Tuckers”.

Supporters travelling to the game will be able to park on site for £5 per vehicle, while season car park pass holders can park free of charge, but can make a donation of £5, which will go to the trust.