Ex-Celtic player Stiliyan Petrov, who was forced to retire from football due to a battle with Leukaemia, to play at Brandyell
A host of top former domestic and international stars will line out at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium for what is expected to be a sell-out event sponsored by sportswear giants O’Neills, in honour of the much loved former Candystripes’ captain.
The Ryan McBride Foundation last night confirmed that it had secured Petrov, the Bulgarian former professional with both Glasgow Celtic and Aston Villa, for this year’s star-studded event.
The Glasgow Celtic team featuring Petrov, will be led by the “Derry Pele” Paddy McCourt and include other fan favourites such as Jackie McNamara, Simon Donnelly, Tom Boyd, Rab Douglas, Mark Wilson and Mark Burchill.
Kieran Kennedy, Managing Director of O’Neills – lead sponsors of the Ryan McBride Soccer Sixes – said he was delighted that Petrov was on his way to the North West especially for the event.
Congratulating the Ryan McBride Foundation on ‘signing’ Petrov, the O’Neills’ boss said: “I am sure football fans both locally and further afield will share our excitement at this news.
Petrov, and indeed all of the teams taking part in the Soccer Sixes, can be assured of a massive welcome from both the organisers and all those fans lucky enough to secure tickets.”
Ryan McBride’s sister Caitlin said she was thrilled that Petrov had agreed to take part in the event in honour of her brother and the Foundation set up in his name after he passed away unexpectedly in his sleep almost two years ago, aged 27.
She added: “It shows yet again the high esteem in which Ryan was held far beyond his beloved home city and that continues to make our family extremely proud approaching the second anniversary of his death on 19th March.”
Petrov (39), who played as a midfielder, joined Celtic from CSKA Sofia in 1999, and won ten trophies in his time at Celtic Park, including four Scottish Premier League titles. In 2006, he moved to Aston Villa along with his former manager Martin O’Neill.
Bulgaria’s all-time most capped player, he was successfully treated for acute leukaemia in 2012 and later retired from professional football.
The Stiliyan Petrov Foundation (SPF) was established in 2013 to help revolutionise the way leukaemia and cancer are treated.
The Soccer Sixes – with action-packed family fun day activities – will kick off in the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium at 1pm on 5th May 2019, featuring Glasgow Celtic, Republic of Ireland, Derry City (defending champions) and PFA Ireland Select teams. Tickets are £25 adult, £10 child, £60 family of 4.
Tickets for the Gala Ball at the City Hotel that evening with Scouse impressionist and online star Darren Farley providing the after-dinner entertainment, are £60/table £600.
Please contact the Ryan McBride Foundation on Facebook or Twitter for further details.
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