Celebs join in charity match after former Ipswich Town star struck by shock motor neurone disease diagnosis

Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp and England Women’s Euros hero Jill Scott were among the celebs and football stars who came out to support a charity match for a former Ipswich Town play diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND).

Ex-Ipswich Town star Marcus Stewart, best known for scoring 19 goals in 2001, pushing the newly-promoted team to fifth in the Premier League, was diagnosed with MND last January.

On Saturday (May 13), more than 4,000 fans turned up to watch England legends Paul Scholes and Jill Scott, who was part of the women’s squad that won Euro 2022, take part in a charity match to raise money for MND charity Darby Rimmer Foundation.

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Bolton and Wimbledon striker Dean Holdsworth and Aston Villa phenomenon Dean Saunders also took to the field. Scott scored a penalty for the All Stars team, but South West Legends still triumphed in the fundraising friendly.

Bath City midfielder Chris Lines netted two, securing the team of legends from both Bristol teams a 4-3 victory at the The Memorial Stadium, home of Bristol Rovers where Stewart played during his career. The game was set up in a bid to raise over £100,000 for the MND charity Darby Rimmer Foundation, set up by an RAF soldier also diagnosed with the degenerative nervous system disease.

Stewart’s former teammates from Bristol Rovers, Bristol City, Huddersfield Town, Ipswich, Sunderland and Yeovil Town also took part in the match.

He last played in 2011 for Exeter City and is currently head of player development at Yeovil Town. Speaking from the pitch before the game, he said: “I know a lot of players have driven from different places to make the effort to come here.