SIR Bobby Charlton is coming to Morecambe Football Club.

The world cup winner will attend the Shrimps' big match with Southampton on Wednesday night, itself something of a coup for the club.

Matt Le Tissier and Mark Hughes are pledged to play in the game designed to commemorate the official opening of the new £550,000 stand.

Football fans will also have the chance to check out Southampton's new signing James Beattie who was born in Lancaster.

Saints' manager David Jones agreed to bring his team to Christie Park as he enjoyed a spell at Morecambe a few years ago. Jones came to Christie Park as assistant manager to Bryan Griffiths in 1989 prior to his successful spell as manager of Stockport County.

Excited Morecambe chairman Rod Taylor said: "This is going to be a massive day for Morecambe Football Club. We are still raising money for the new stand and this will go a long way towards that and we hope for a large crowd on the night to see some of the top names in English football and help Morecambe at the same time. I would like to thank David Jones and the board of Southampton FC for agreeing to the game to commemorate the opening of the new stand."

He added: "To have one of the game's greats such as Bobby Charlton to open the stand is really the icing on the cake for the club on what is already sure to be a memorable occasion."

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