Brian Little back in Villa Park dugout for charity match

Charity return for Villa legend.

Aston Villa fans can enjoy a blast from the past on Thursday May 15th as legendary former player and manager Brian Little returns to Villa Park in a charity match organised by the Midlands’ leading children’s activity and sports coaching company, Sports Plus Scheme, in aid of Cruse Bereavement Care.

The match will see two squads of Sports Plus Scheme staff and senior teaching staff from schools across the West Midlands, including Kings Rise Academy, Brownmead Junior and Infant, Chilwell Croft Academy and Hamstead Junior, follow in the footsteps of Premier League legends.

In addition to Little’s first return to the Villa Park dugout in 16 years, the match will also see a second special guest as former Premier League referee, Alan Wiley officiates.

With another well-known figure from the world of football due to be confirmed as the opposition manager, the two coaches will be ably assisted by Nigel Edge, the former head of Ferndale Primary School in Great Barr, and Andy Leivers, the Executive headteacher of nearby Grove Vale Primary School, adding an extra touch of local rivalry on the sidelines.

Tickets to the match are on sale now for just £1, enabling children to cheer on their headteachers in an affordable night of family fun, providing an ideal gentle introduction for children attending a football match for the first time.

In addition to the match, there will also be a host of fun activities, including children’s penalty shoot-outs at half time, and a chance to meet the Sports Plus Scheme mascot, Andy the Lion.

Helping to raise money for Cruse Bereavement Care, the proceeds will help the charity to provide support, advice and information to children, young people and adults who have lost loved ones, helping to enhance society’s care of bereaved people.

The match comes as Sports Plus Scheme enjoys a successful 2014, which has seen the Aldridge-based firm become the first in the region to be fully compliant with the new CAPRE standard for children’s activity professionals, whilst continuing with its recruitment drive for high quality sports coaches.