Gillingham football legend Andy Hessenthaler has agreed to play in a charity game at Priestfield Stadium next month.

The former Gills player and manager will turn out for an All Stars X1 against a Royal Engineers team wearing a replica kit from their 1875 FA Cup appearance.

The celebrity team will include a number of former Chelsea players such as Peter Bonetti, Kerry Dixon and Gary Chivers.

The match on Sunday, May 4, is to raise cash for Help for Heroes that treats injured servicemen and women from Medway.

A target of £6m has been set to build a swimming pool and gymnasium at the Forces Rehabilitation Centre in south London. The aim is to collect at least £100,000 from a series of events in Kent this year.

When asked about turning out again at Priestfield Stadium, Mr Hessenthaler said: “Gillingham is my club so it will always be emotional to play there.

“The club has great fans so I am looking forward to it. Theirs is the first result I look for every week.”

Hessenthaler said: “I am delighted to be able to help the charity because when I was at the club we had close links with the Army and often trained at their gym when they had problems with bad weather. It will be nice to give something back to them.”

Other players who have agreed to turn out include the Wimbledon 1988 FA Cup winning captain Dave Bessant, the former soldier Guy Whittingham, who played for Portsmouth and Aston Villa, England youth and Middlesborough player Phil Stamp, Spurs FA Cup winner Paul Allen and West Ham winger Bobby Barnes.

A crowd of more than 6,000 is expected for the match, which features live entertainment for 90 minutes before kick-off and at half-time.

Tickets are on sale at Priestfield Stadium and the four pubs in Brompton. They are £5 for adults or £3 for children and OAPs.