One Direction star Louis Tomlinson has signed on for his first big gig since the band went on hiatus – he has joined the line up for Soccer Aid.
The Doncaster Rovers fan will play on the England side for the match against the Rest of the World team on June 5 at Old Trafford in Manchester.
Louis on stage during his One Direction days (PA)
The match, in aid of children’s charity Unicef, will be Louis’s first project since One Direction announced they would be going on a break and the boybander became a father for the first time.
He said: “I’m really excited to play in this year’s Soccer Aid event. Unicef as a charity, and its workers, continue to amaze me and helping even in this small way is a privilege.”
Louis will play under the watchful eye of England’s assistant manager and pop star Robbie Williams, who is Unicef’s UK ambassador.
Robbie Williams will be the assistant coach (Anthony Devlin/PA)
He joins fellow pop stars Olly Murs and Marvin Humes on the team, as well as reality star Mark Wright, comedians Paddy McGuinness, Jack Whitehall and John Bishop and presenters Ben Shephard and Jonathan Wilkes with Jamie Theakston in goal.
The Rest of the World team will be captained by Welsh actor and Unicef UK ambassador Michael Sheen, who will lead out superstar chef Gordon Ramsay, former Westlife singer Nicky Byrne and presenter Rickie Haywood-Williams.
Michael Sheen will lead out the Rest of the World team (Ian West/PA)
Soccer Aid was started by Robbie and his pal Jonathan and has already raised £17 million for Unicef through donations and profits from ticket sales.
The biennial live event will be hosted by presenter Dermot O’Leary with Sky Sports News presenter Kirsty Gallacher reporting from the side of the pitch.
Robbie Williams and team celebrate getting a penalty against the Rest of the World during the Soccer aid charity match in 2014 (Martin Rickett/PA)
The match will be broadcast live on ITV.
Tickets now on sale for Soccer Aid 2016, call 0845 456 2016 or visit manutd.com/socceraid.
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