McCoy to lead jockeys into battle with Cheltenham Legends in IJF football match

Stirrups will be swapped for shinpads on Wednesday evening in Cheltenham, where Sir Anthony McCoy will lead a team of former weighing room colleagues and celebrities in a charity football match in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund.

McCoy's team will face a Cheltenham Town Legends XI at the LCI Rail Stadium and will be out for revenge having gone down 3-2 last year. Kick off is scheduled for 7.30pm.

Sam Twiston-Davies, Jamie Moore and Jamie Bargary will all be playing on McCoy's team, along with trainer Ben Pauling, ITV Racing's Oli Bell and Chris Hughes, who starred in reality show Love Island.

There could be some deadline-day additions, with 'ringers' Francis Jeffers and Julian Joachim mentioned as possible transfer targets for McCoy's team.

Bargary, who plays up front and is regarded as one of the best players for the jockeys, is looking forward to the match.

He said on Tuesday: "I can't wait. Hopefully I'll get there in one piece as I'm riding today and tomorrow.

"The weather's supposed to be good so hopefully that will bring a good crowd in."

The Cheltenham Legends can call on Mark Yates, who spent five years at the helm at the club, and Martin Devaney, who became the first player to score a hat-trick at football league level for Cheltenham in 2000.

Half-time entertainment is a trainers v jockeys penalty shootout, where the stakes will be high with bragging rights on the line.

Jonjo O'Neill, David Pipe and Nigel Twiston-Davies will all be lining up from 12 yards out, while for the jockeys Richard Johnson, Tom Scudamore and Lizzie Kelly will be among those hoping to find the back of the net.

That may prove no easy task, with Mansfield Town goalkeeper Conrad Logan between the posts. Logan has previous with penalties – saving two on his debut for Hibernian in the Scottish Cup semi-final against Dundee United in 2016.

Racegoers at Cheltenham in the afternoon can also try their hand at penalties, with the chance for a free bet with William Hill during racing should they succeed.

The McCoy match raised £25,000 in 2017 and is sponsored by Stonegate Homes this year. Organiser Chris Coley is confident this year's fundraising total will surpass the 2017 tally.

Tickets are priced at £10 for adults and £5 for concessions and under 16s, and will be available on the gate.

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