St Helens Town will make history at Saints' ground on Friday

The event is part of St Helens Borough’s year as the Liverpool City Region Borough of Culture, and Saints and England star Mark Percival’s testimonial year.

The event will feature St Helens Town AFC v Wigan Town FC in an official Cheshire Football League fixture, followed by a St Helens Town XI v Saints XI exhibition match.

A number of junior teams from clubs around the borough will take part in a series of small-sided games throughout the evening.

The exhibition match will feature popular now ex-Saints Louie McCarthy Scarsbrook in goal for the St Helens Town XI.

Matty Smith will lead the Saints XI including Kyle Amor, Kevin Brown, Mark Flanagan, broadcaster George Riley and Bernard Thresher from The Lancashire Hotpots.

 Mark Percival said: “As my Testimonial year comes to a close, we’re running something a little different with a Festival of Football at the Totally Wicked stadium.

"St Helens is a Rugby Town but with close links to Liverpool and Manchester, Football is a sport high on people’s lists and the town’s football club St Helens Town also have a rich history of their own.

"The event will be great to see some Legends of St Helens lace up their boots and also the opportunity to see some stars of the future with exhibition games from local teams.

"With thanks to organisers St Helens Town AFC, Saints and St Helens Council, I hope you have a great evening. Thank you for your support.”

Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook added: “I’m a massive football fan, so the opportunity to play in goal at the stadium for the St Helens Town XI will be amazing, and a great bit of fun, who knows, I might even go up for the odd corner!

"Hope everyone can get behind Percy for this brilliant event!”

St Helens Town AFC Chair, Ste Lingard said: “Rugby League and football are the two biggest sports in town, central to our culture.

"It’s terrific to be binging them together like this - staging football at the Totally Wicked Stadium is something special.

"Everyone who takes part will remember it forever, especially our lads playing an official Cheshire League fixture and all the junior players from across the Borough.

"Thanks to everyone at Saints, and to the staff at the Council and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, whose support has made it possible.”

Tickets are available via www.saintsrlfc.com, priced at £5 for adults, £2 for U16’s / OAP’s and £10 for a family (two adults and up to two U16’s). Hospitality tickets also available.

The event has been supported with funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, administered By St Helens Borough Council as part of the Liverpool City Region Borough of Culture, 2023.

The full programme for the evening is as follows.

Stadium Opens: 6pm Exhibition games from Junior Football Teams: 6.30pm – 6.40pm.

St Helens Town AFC Vs Wigan Town 1st Half: 6.45pm.

Exhibition games from Junior Football Teams 7.35pm – 7.45pm.

St Helens Town AFC Vs Wigan Town 2nd Half: 7.45pm.

Exhibition games from Junior Football Teams: 8.35pm – 8.45pm.

Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook's St Helens Town XI vs Matty Smith Saints & Friends XI: 9pm.

Event Finish: 10pm.