Former Manchester United player Keith Gillespie is looking forward to lining out on Leckview Park on Saturday as the Manchester United legends take on Letterkenny Rovers legends in a friendly to celebrate the opening of the new Leckview pitch.
A weekend of action begins in Rosapenna on Friday, July 26 with teams of four including, one ex- player to captain every team for a Golf Classic, with prizes for the winners.
The Saturday begins with a meet and greet in Voodoo Bar from 11.30am with a chance to take photos with the trophies won in the 1998/1999 season, including the Champions League, the FA Cup and the Premier League.
The game then takes place on the Saturday afternoon at 3pm on the newly developed Leckview Park pitch, before a Gala dinner in the evening at the Mount Errigal Hotel in the evening.
Gillespie will be joined on the Man United team alongside Jaap Stam, Karel Poborsky, Frank Stapleton, Brian McClair, Lee Martin, Chris Eagles, Eric Djemba Djemba, Clayton Blackmore and Paul Parker and the former Northern Ireland legend is looking forward to the weekend.
“It’s important to get sponsors for these games and it’s good to get Voodoo on board who have been a massive help,” Gillespie told the Donegal News.
“My golf is average at the minute but I’m playing in the ProAm at the Northern Ireland Open in Ballymena on Tuesday so I’ll need to get down to the range first!
“I don’t beat myself up about golf, I can hit good shots but I’m not a good golfer. I’ve heard loads about Rosapenna and it should be a great day if the weather is good.
“With the football, I’ve played in Ballybofey against Finn Harps for Longford but that’s the only time I’ve played in Donegal.
“I have no cartilage in my right knee so it can be painful after games but I know how to manage it, it’s tough on the legs when you’re getting that bit older!
“The golf is sold out and there’s limited tickets for the game so it should be a good day with plenty of craic and I’m looking forward to it.”
Gillespie had a very successful career in England and made over 200 appearances in the Premier League.
The Northern Irishman went to the Man United School of Excellence in Belfast as a teen before signing with the Premier League giants, but it was at Newcastle and Blackburn Rovers where he enjoyed more game time.
Although, making his senior debut for the club he supported is something he’ll never forget.
“I went over when I was 13 and I went over for a week and they signed me so I was guaranteed to go over when I was 16 for an apprenticeship.
“You’re going from Northern Ireland to Manchester at 16 but I looked at it as an hour away on a flight and it was a small sacrifice to try and make it at one of the biggest clubs in the world and one that I supported.
“But the most surreal part was after 18 months of joining I got to make my debut and it was incredible.
“It was against Bury in the FA Cup and I put the cross in for the first goal and scored the second so for debuts, you couldn’t ask for much more.
“I had unbelievable times at Newcastle, we came second in the league two years in-a-row, making the FA Cup final, making the Champions League and beating Barcelona in that, they were four incredible years.
“You have regrets about the 1995/96 season because we had it in control and couldn’t get over the line, but if you said at the start of the season you’d take it to the last day then you’d have been happy with that. But being 12 points clear at one stage, it was disappointing but I’m proud of that team and the way we played that season, everyone remembers that Newcastle side.”
Letterkenny Rovers manager Stephen McConnell has had plenty of involvement in organising the weekend and he’s hoping for a big turnout on the day to celebrate their new pitch.
“We’ve a new grass pitch with floodlights and new dugouts and it’s the official opening, we started development in April 2023.
“There are still sponsorship opportunities available and tickets for the Gala ball.
“We have a select amount of tickets online for the game but we’ll accept walk-ins on the day.
“It’s something I’ve been working on for the guts of a year and a half, we would have played the current Man United team but we would probably beat them!
“It’s been busy with getting limited edition jerseys, putting together a match programme and everything but we’re looking forward to the day.
“It worked out very well with getting promotion and it’s a great way to open the pitch, it’s all coming together and it’s hard work done by everyone.
“Hopefully it’s a good day for everyone at the club and something for people to talk about.”
While tickets to play in the Golf Classic and play in the football match are sold out, tickets are still available for the meet and greet, priced at €25.
Match tickets are €20 and tickets to attend the Gala ball are still available at €75 each and all tickets can be bought online. Visit the Letterkenny Rovers v Manchester United Legends Facebook page for more information.
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