Soccer Aid is returning to Manchester this year with a fantastic line-up of famous faces. Among the celebrities taking to the pitch at Manchester United's Old Trafford on Sunday, June 11 is Alex Brooker.
The presenter made his Soccer Aid debut at London Stadium last year and was the first-ever physically disabled person in the game. Now Alex, who co-hosts Channel 4's The Last Leg alongside comedians Adam Hills and Josh Widdicombe, is thrilled to return for 2023.
Reprising his spot on Team England, Alex will be walking out onto the pitch for the second time alongside Scarlette Douglas, Jack Wilshere, Joel Corry, Bugzy Malone, Karen Carney, Gary Cahill and Lioness and team captain Jill Scott. Hosted by Dermot O’Leary and Alex Scott, the event raises money for UNICEF to help to disadvantaged children worldwide, and will see a whole host of celebrities and professional players go head-to-head in a 90-minute match in front of more than 74,000 fans.
Alex told the Manchester Evening News he was 'so excited' to be taking part in the annual charity football match again and revealed he 'never expected' to be asked back. He said: "Last year’s Soccer Aid was one of the best experiences of my life... I was quite nervous because I’m not as physically capable as the other celebrities involved, but it was really amazing for me.
"The feeling coming off the pitch was just unbelievable, the noise, to see people cheering for me, it was just an incredible experience and something that will stay with me for a long time."
The 38-year-old noted that the public had 'a lot of good will' towards him last year, but joked people might expect a bit more from him the second time around. He added: "Last year, I know I was on the pitch for about 13 minutes because I counted every second of them. I was absolutely knackered!
"I looked up and thought, 'that’s got to be about eight minutes gone here,' and it was a minute thirty - and I was absolutely blowing. This year, the big aim in the run up to it is to get myself a little bit fitter."
And he's on his way, having dropped from a size XL shirt to an L since last year's game already. Alex quipped: "Let’s be honest, medium and small are well out of reach," adding: "What we have we hold! I’ll just try and tone up within that - that’s the main goal."
The presenter, who was born with hand and arm deformities and had his right leg amputated when he was a baby, revealed some of the unusual training he'd undertaken to prepare for the match this summer. "I did a gym session this week and I was doing shuttle runs with a sled," he said. "If you’d seen me then, I’ve got a long, long way to go."
Both a football fan and a sports journalist, Alex said taking part in last year's Soccer Aid reignited his love for being out on the pitch. "I got the bug since playing last year," he explained. "I didn’t play for a long, long time before Soccer Aid, I hadn’t played for years and years... With my restrictions physically there’s only so much I can do anyway but I’ve missed playing football so much, I love it."
Team England lost last years' match on penalties, with a final score of 4-1, making Soccer Aid World XI the winners. Alex is confident for an England win this year, and with Lioness Jill Scott as team captain, he reckons the team will bring it home.
Alex said: "This is dream-come-true stuff for us celebrities that get to play, because you’re playing alongside people that you’ve watched on telly, people that you’ve supported. This year I’ve got Jack Wilshere on my team and I’m a massive Arsenal fan, I’ve paid to watch him.
"But with all that we’re also part of something bigger which is the reason we do it, to raise money for UNICEF - and that’s far bigger and it’s a real privilege to be part of it."
The game will air live and exclusively on ITV, STV and ITVX.
Tickets to attend the game are on sale now via www.socceraid.org.uk/tickets with a family of four able to attend for just £60.
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