NME will be fielding a team in the V98 Celebrity Premiership set to take place at the Chelmsford site on Saturday and Sunday. NME team officials, in seclusion in the team’s hideaway training camp The Stamford Arms, are not prepared to announce at this stage just who the team will feature but some celebrity ringers are expected.
The festival five-aside football tournament has attracted the participation of such top stars of stage, screen and airwave as ASH, THE BLUETONES, VIC REEVES, BOB MORTIMER, MARK OWEN, TONY HADLEY, STEVE LAMACQ, RAY WINSTON and ROLAND RIVRON, TV Gladiators HUNTER, RHINO and WOLF plus cast members from both BROOKSIDE and EASTENDERS.
Veterans of the pitch who’ve promised to show the showbiz posse a clean pair of heels include ex-England and QPR star STANLEY BOWLES, Spurs stalwarts MICKEY HAZZARD and TONY GIBSON, SIMON STAINROD (QPR), CYRIL REGIS (West Bromwich Albion), Liverpool’s PHIL NEIL, ALAN KENNEDY and CRAIG JOHNSTON plus the fearsomely fresh ARSENAL YOUTH TEAM.
Matches in the V98 Celebrity Premiership – sponsored by Loaded magazine, Tommy Jeans, Budweiser beer and Playstation’s Viva Football – take place before the special festival football terrace, which can seat 1,000 people.
Play kicks off at 1pm both days and continues until 3pm. Each day’s winners will receive the Budweiser Trophy plus a ‘500 cheque for the charity of their choice in a presentation on the Main Stage at 7pm.
Music during the game intervals and half-time breaks comes from underground garage DJ Lisa Unique when there will also be ample opportunities for spectators to win buckets of “product” from the sponsors.