Arsenal Trio Line Up For London Legends Date At Craven Cottage

Paul Merson, Ray Parlour & Nigel Winterburn join Lee Sharpe for England

 Former Arsenal team-mates Paul Merson, Ray Parlour and Nigel Winterburn have been added to Peter Reid's England Legends squad that will face The Republic of Ireland Legends at Fulham's Craven Cottage on Thursday October 9th live on ITV4 , kick off 7.45pm.

The Legends: England v Republic of Ireland is the third game in The 2008 Legends Series. The England Legends beat their Scottish counterparts 2-0 at St. Mary's Stadium Southampton on Thursday May 15 th before losing 5-1 to Germany at Sheffield United's Bramall Lane .

Merson, Winterburn and Parlour will join Manchester United's Lee Sharpe in facing a Republic of Ireland squad that includes former Gunner Eddie McGoldrick and Charlton's Mark Kinsella alongside Manchester United's Dennis Irwin.

The Legends: England v Republic of Ireland marks a fourth Legends appearance for Paul Merson. The former Arsenal, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and Portsmouth midfielder has scored once in his quartet of appearances, against The Germany Legends in May 2006.

Nigel Winterburn returns to bolster an England Legends backline that suffered a 5-1 defeat at the hands of The Germany Legends at Sheffield United on Thursday August 7 th 2008. Winterburn was key member of the team that beat The Scotland Legends 2-0 on Thursday May 15 th at St. Mary's Stadium, Southampton .
Ray Parlour is a newer member of the England Legends, joining the squad in the 5-1 defeat to Italy in November 2007. Parlour was also a member of the England Legends that beat Scotland 2-0.

Mark Kinsella is the second member of The Ireland Legends to be announced. The 36-year old central midfielder made 48 appearances for the Republic, scored three times, and is a former Irish Footballer of the Year. Kinsella made over 200 appearances for Charlton Athletic.

43-year old Eddie McGoldrick played for the Republic of Ireland on 15 occasions. A 1994 European Cup Winners Cup winner with Arsenal, McGoldrick made over 350 top flight appearances for the likes of Crystal Palace , Arsenal and Manchester City .

Tickets for The Legends: England v Ireland are £14 for adults (over 16) and £8 for OAPs/Students, plus booking fee and available from Fulham Football Club's Box Office on 0870 442 1234. Transmission for The Legends: England v Ireland will begin at 7pm. All Legends football games operate a ‘Kid-A-Quid' scheme; all children under 16 will gain entry to The Legends for just £1.

September 11, 2008