DAVE WATSON GIVEN THE CAPTAIN'S ROLE AGAINST FC BARCELONA

Dave Watson receives his Captain's armband from (left) Tony Tighe, Trustee of the Everton Collection Charitable Trust and (right) Laurence Lee, Chairman of the Everton Former Players Association.

Former captain, Dave Watson, has been chosen to skipper the Everton Former Players' team that will take on Barcelona Former Players on Wednesday 28 March 2007 at Goodison Park.

The Match, which is being staged to raise funds for the Everton Collection Charitable Trust, is the crescendo of "Heritage Week" - seven days of activities, which will help the Charity to acquire the David France Collection of Football Memorabilia.

A sample from The Collection will be on display on Sunday 25 March in the Marquee at Goodison Park when a number of items will be seen for the very first time by the public. Then on Tuesday 27 March over 400 people will attend a special fundraising Dinner at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at the Princess Dock, Liverpool.

The match against Barcelona will be the first occasion the two clubs have met since 1924 when The Blues won the "Barcelona Cup", a four-team event designed to promote the fledgling Catalan club. That Cup has been at Goodison Park ever since and will take pride of place during the Heritage Week events.

Dave Watson, who retired from playing in May 2001 is charged to help produce an Everton side worthy to play against some former Barcelona stars such as Louis Enrique, Juan Carlos and Laudrup.

"I'll be sitting down with the Former Player's Association next week and look at what options are available to us,” said Dave, who actually managed the Blues for a short while in a caretaker capacity before he retired.

"It's a pity Dixie is not available to us! But it's sure to be a great night."

Tickets will go on sale on the 1 February at the Goodison Box Office.

Lord Grantchester, a Trustee of the Charity tasked to acquire the Collection said, "I hope all Evertonians will support us on the night as we want it to be a real family affair and the entrance fee will reflect this." (08/01/07)

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