Battle of the Five-A-Sides gets serious

16th May 2017

Alan Shearer and Robbie Savage have announced the celebrities who will join them as they go head-to-head in the BBC Radio 5 Live ‘Battle of the Five-A-Sides’ for Sport Relief.

The challenge, which is supported by the Premier League, will see Alan and Robbie each managing a squad of players in a three day five-a-side football frenzy.

Both football heroes have pledged to play 12 hours of continuous football as part of the event and McBusted’s Danny Jones, television presenter Rachel Riley and Union J’s Josh Cuthbert have committed to join them.

Robbie will kick off the match and his 12 hour challenge today, with the other four stars taking to the pitch one after the other at Media City in Salford.

As well as playing in Sport Relief’s biggest ever five-a-side football match, Alan and Robbie will manage a squad of players throughout the three days. Alongside the five stars, more than 1,000 participants will play in 30 minute stints, as part of ‘Team Alan’ or ‘Team Robbie’, to make up 57 hours of continuous football – the equivalent of playing an entire Premier League season for one club.

Robbie will be representing BBC Radio 5 live, whilst Alan is taking part on behalf of BBC’s Match of the Day. During the challenge they will be joined by known names from the world of sport and entertainment, including comedians John Bishop and Hugh Dennis, footballer and presenter Dion Dublin and presenter Michelle Ackerley.

“At least now when I hear managers saying that their teams can’t play three games in a week I’ll have the perfect response!” Alan said. “This is going to be tough and we’ll be so grateful for support from the public to get us through.”

“After seeing first hand where the money raised for Sport Relief goes, I can’t wait to go face-to-face against Alan once again and help raise money for such a great cause,” Robbie Savage added. The goal of the game is to raise much-needed cash for Sport Relief, which will help make a difference to people living incredibly tough lives, both here at home in the UK and across the world’s poorest communities.