Legendary Carlisle United winger George McVitie is ready to get his boots back on - at 68!

The former Brunton Park favourite has agreed to make a cameo appearance in the charity game for Tony Hopper later this month.

Carlisle-born McVitie's playing days ended in the early 1980s but he says he is prepared to step back onto the Blues' pitch for Hopper, who is suffering from motor neurone disease.

McVitie, who went to school with Hopper's dad John, said: "If it means anything to the lad [Hopper], of course I will.

"I'll have to find a pair of boots first, mind - I might need to get the ladders out and have a look on the loft!

"I'm nearly 70 but luckily the old legs are still okay.

"I doubt I'll be running far but it doesn't matter what generation you are - everyone wants to support such a worthy cause."

The game at Brunton Park on Sunday, May 21 will raise money for the MND Association as well as United's community sports trust, Great North Air Ambulance and Jigsaw Hospice.

It will involve teams featuring many of Hopper's former Carlisle and Workington team-mates.

Also added to the list of ex-Blues taking part are Scott Dobie and Gareth McAlindon.

Cumbrian former top-flight striker Dobie, who had two spells with the Blues, is a fellow product of United's youth system in the 1990s, while McAlindon also played alongside Hopper at Brunton Park from 1996-99.

They will join a host of popular players including Stephane Pounewatchy, Matt Jansen, Rory Delap, Grant Holt, Dean Walling, David Reeves and Steve Hayward in the game, which kicks off at 2.30pm.

Tickets are £5 with all proceeds to be shared by the four charities. They are on sale at Brunton Park, the Cumberland Building Society on Fisher Street in Carlisle, Hodgson's Newsagents on Lowther Street, McCall's Bakery on Upperby Road and YESSS Electrical on Currock Road.

The News & Star is also backing the Hopper family's bid to raise cash and awareness for the MND charity with our Fighting Back for Tony campaign.

You can donate to the Hoppers' fightback fund for the MND Association at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Tony-Hopper.

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Hundreds of votes have already been received. You can cast your vote either by using the voting panel alongside this article or by emailing sport.carlisle@cngroup.co.uk with 'United PoY' in the subject line.