A CELEBRITY charity football match at AFC Bournemouth has been cancelled.

The club’s chief executive Neill Blake confirmed yesterday afternoon that the game, due to be held on Sunday, July 18, had been called off because too many celebrities involved could not make the date.

The event was originally scheduled for the previous day, but, with Premier League Fulham confirming that they could play Cherries in a pre-season friendly on July 17, the charity day was moved to the Sunday.

Mr Blake told the Daily Echo: “A lot of the stars we were waiting on have come back to us saying they couldn’t change the day. Given that, we could just not go ahead with it.”

The club said it would be giving more details about the cancellation on Monday.

It was hoped that the event would fill Dean Court as fans flocked to see a team of Cherries legends take on a celebrity squad to raise cash for children’s hospice Julia’s House and the Youth Cancer Trust.

The celebrities were due to include boxers Joe Calzaghe and Nigel Benn, rugby star Martin Offiah, former Manchester United and England star Terry Sheringham and actor Danny Dyer.

The AFCB Legends team would have included current management duo Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall, Ted MacDougall, Matty Holmes, Darren Anderton, Trevor Aylott and John Williams.

There were also children’s attractions planned for the day, including bouncy castles, a climbing wall, football challenges, pony rides, an assault course and fashion shows.

An evening gala dinner attended by the star names had also been arranged and Victoria Cross hero Johnson Beharry had been asked to present some of the prizes.