Sunderland legends Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips are set to take part in a testimonial game for long-serving former Black Cats kitman John Cooke.
Quinn and newly-installed South Shields manager Phillips will be involved in the match, which will take place on Sunday, May 29, at South Shields' 1st Cloud Arena home, with ex-Sunderland boss Peter Reid taking charge of one team and Cooke managing in the opposing dugout.
Former Sunderland and Rangers striker Ally McCoist, ex-Black Cats and Newcastle United midfielder Lee Clark, and former Newcastle and England hero Peter Beardsley have committed to take part.
READ MORE: Alex Neil coy on reports linking him with Sunderland's head coach vacancy
And former Sunderland players including Kevin Ball, Michael Gray, Alex Rae, John O’Shea, Wes Brown, Gary Bennett, Gordon Chisholm, Ian Atkins, Kevin Arnott and Gary Rowell are all set to be involved.
Boxing legend Frank Bruno will serve as video assistant referee and co-commentator, with BBC Radio Newcastle's Nick Barnes also behind the microphone with commentary broadcast over the club PA system.
A number of South Shields are due to make an appearance, and club chairman Geoff Thompson will make a cameo as a player.
The match has been organised to mark Cooke's contribution at Sunderland which spans four decades.
He spent six years at the club as a player between 1979 and 1985, and returned in 1994 as kitman - a role he held until 2020.
Cooke said: "I am humbled by the event and wish to thank Peter Reid and Geoff Thompson and his team for organising what looks set to be a fantastic day out.
"The response to this event from everyone has been overwhelming and given me a tremendous lift.
"I look forward to celebrating with former players and friends, and thank those who wish to support the event."
Quinn added: ''If I have learned one thing in life or football, it is that you need a good dressing room.
"You live or die by the characters in the dressing room.
"Johnny was a larger-than-life component in ours and his impact was far greater than that of a kitman.
"He was the very fabric of the best dressing room I was ever involved in.
"Later as chairman, I knew the dressing room was fine with Johnny around."
Reid also paid tribute to Cooke, saying: ''Cookie's strengths were his personality and his humour, but I have to say his pace wasn't his best attribute as a player or kitman!
"The support and feedback from ex-players has been amazing, including the black and whites.
"I would also like to thank Geoff and South Shields Football Club for their full support to this event."
The bars will open and the football will begin at 11am when supporters will get the chance to take part in a free football coaching session.
Players from South Tyneside Ability FC – which provides disabled football coaching for children, adults, ladies and the visually impaired – will entertain the crowd with an exhibition game from 1pm in the build-up to the big kick-off.
Members of Sunderland's 1973 FA Cup-winning squad will be introduced to the crowd at 1.45pm to begin a year of celebrations which will culminate in the 50-year anniversary of their famous triumph.
The match will kick-off at 2pm, and afterwards there will be a party with a live band – free to all ticket holders – starting at 4pm.
A souvenir programme, priced at £5, will also provide match-goers with free entry into a raffle, with prizes including framed signed shirts of Jordan Henderson, Jordan Pickford, Allan Saint-Maximin, and Callum Wilson, amongst others.
Tickets for the event will be priced at £10 adults, £8 concessions, and £5 U16s, with each of those prices increased by £2 for supporters who purchase a seat in the CEFO Group Stand.
Hospitality is available in the Shipley Heating Lounge priced at £50 per person, which includes a two-course meal, souvenir programme, a chance to meet the players and a seat in the former main stand.
Private boxes in the CEFO Group Stand – available at £500 for 10 people – can also be booked, which include sandwiches, a programme, the chance to pre-order drinks and a reserved table at the post-match party.
Tickets can be booked via the South Shields website.
To enquire about hospitality packages or a private box, contact michelle.leadley@southshieldsfc.co.uk
For the latest Sunderland news direct to your inbox, go here to sign up to our free newsletter
