Former players from Vauxhall Motors and Tranmere Rovers will lace up their boots again on Sunday for an afternoon of football fun and nostalgia.

They will be involved in a special charity match at Rivacre Park which will kick off Vauxhall’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

Proceeds from the day will benefit two charities, Diabetes UK and the Tranmere Rovers Former Players Foundation, who helped put together the visiting line-up.

Vauxhall Motors Ladies player Nicola Rigby died from a diabetes related disease last July.

Among the former Tranmere players due to attend are Dave Challinor, Andy Parkinson, Stuart Barlow, Gary Jones, Eddie Bishop, Dave Higgins, Chris Malkin, Ian Thomas-Moore and Jim Harvey.

The Vauxhall squad reunites the team that defeated Queens Park Rangers in an FA Cup replay at Loftus Road in 2002 – the most famous result in the club’s 50-year history.

The likes of Andy Ralph, Phil Brazier, Wayne McDermott and Peter Cumiskey are all lined up to appear.

More than a decade on, Motors officials continue to count the benefits of that FA Cup journey.

Club chairman Alan Bartlam said: “The 2002 FA Cup run had a massive impact on the club. We generated a lot of income from that, so much so we were able to put in place the ground improvements which enabled us to become founder members of the Conference North and to maintain the standard of football that would not have been possible otherwise.”

Bartlam spent the summer getting in touch with members of the 2002 giant-killing team. The task was easier for the visitors thanks to the work of the TRFPF. As well as the match itself, which kicks off at 2pm, there will be raffles, a chance to take a penalty on the Rivacre Park pitch and after the match a special auction of sporting memorabilia.

Admission will be adults �5, concessions �3 and under 16s �1.

Pre-sale tickets are available from Lookers Ellesmere Port, Gloryhunters on Borough Road in Prenton or from Steve Roper on 07950 341490, as well as from the club shop at Rivacre Park. Fans will also be able to pay on the gate on the day.

The match will go ahead as planned despite part of Vauxhall’s pitch being damaged by vandals last Saturday.

Vauxhall Motors 2002 (to include): Andy Ralph, Kevin Thompson, Wayne McDermot, Phil Brazier, Matt Haddrell, Robbie Lawton, Kevin Lynch, Nick Welton, Gary Martindale, Peter Cumiskey, Matty Hogg, Anthony Wright, Derek Ward, Carl Macauley.

Tranmere Rovers (to include): Phil Palethorpe, Alex Hay, Gary Jones, Stuart Barlow, Andy Parkinson, Jim Harvey (player manager), Dave Challinor, Ian Thomas-Moore, Eddie Bishop, Dave Higgins, Chris Malkin, Lee Jones.

More Motors news – page 55.