A GROUP of Cherries legends took on New Milton in a charity game in memory of Emma Bailey this afternoon (Sunday).
AFC Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe lined up with coaches Stephen Fletcher and Stephen Purches, and ex-players including Ian Cox, Jamie Vincent and Christer Warren for the exhibition match at Fawcett’s Field, taking on New Milton Town legends.
Raising funds for both Cancer Research UK and the Oakhaven Hospice, the event was organised to pay tribute to Emma Bailey, wife of ex-Cherry John Bailey, who died of cancer aged 40 on New Year's Eve.
John was among those representing his former club in the match.
The ground and its small stand were filled with eager spectators for the game on Sunday afternoon, and when Eddie Howe arrived it took him some 20 minutes to make his way from his car through the crowd to the changing rooms.
"We were originally looking at getting the whole '98 Wembley squad together, then we got the news that Emma had passed away, and we got in touch with them to do something for Cancer Research UK," said co-organiser and New Milton Town official Richard Stainer.
"Things grew from there, then we had to catch Eddie Howe at the right time. He said he would get his back room staff involved.
"They have all be brilliant, they were keen to get involved and walked out on the pitch with our under-12s."
Another organiser, Viv Williams, said New Milton chairman Scot MacFarlane was a "huge Bournemouth fan" and had been enthusiastic about the plan.
"I was expecting maybe 200 people to be here but it has gone nuts," she said.
John Bailey remains the only player to have scored at Wembley Stadium for the Dorset club.
He found the net when Mel Machin’s side lost 2-1 to Grimsby in front of more than 62,000 fans almost 20 years ago, at the 1998 Auto Windscreens Shield Trophy final.
On Sunday, Cherries legends were managed by popular BBC summariser John Williams.
Other players included James Glass, Mark Molesley, James Hayter and Alan Connell.
Funds were raised via ticket sales, with some £3,000 collected before the match even got under way.
Donations were also collected on site and there was a raffle and an auction. Among the prizes was the match ball, signed by the players.
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