Former world super-featherweight boxing champion Charles Shepherd will be one of a host of celebrities to take part in a charity match in aid of Autism next Saturday.

The event, organised in association with Manchester company AMT Sports Management, will be between an ex-pro team and a celebrity side.

It will take place at Widnes Vikings’ Select Security Stadium.

Carlisle’s Shepherd, who defeated American Tom “Boom Boom” Johnson in 1999 to capture the IBO World championship in one of the biggest nights of boxing Cumbria has ever witnessed, will be one of the stars on show.

Shepherd runs Four Belt Fitness on Raffles Avenue in Carlisle.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” said the 46-year-old.

“It will be really nice to do something for a good cause.”

Shepherd will be joined by current and former boxers Zelfa Barrett, John Murray, Chris Monaghan and David Allen for the event.

Three former footballers in Craig Armstrong, Sergio Carrallo and Simon Heaton will also be involved.

Armstrong, who played for more than 15 different teams in his professional career, was also joint-manager of Eastwood Town alongside Jamie Brough and sole manager of Quorn.

But the 41-year-old now works as an Elite Development Coach for Championship outfit Nottingham Forest.

While, former Real Madrid midfielder Carrallo spent three seasons with the Spanish giants after joining in 2012 and played under club legend Zinedine Zidane in the Real Madrid B side.

He also went on to played with the senior Real team during their 2014 pre-season tour of the USA under Italian Carlo Ancelotti and reportedly attracted interest from both Arsenal and Chelsea during that period.

However, after a spell representing Breidablick in Iceland, he moved to British shores and played for Corby Town in the Evo-Stik Premier Division.

The only current footballer to be involved will be former Plymouth Argyle striker David Norris.

He played over 200 times for Argyle between 2002 and 2008, before making over 100 appearances for Ipswich Town.

The 35-year-old is currently a free agent after being released by SkyBet League Two outfit Blackpool at the end of the 2015/16 season.

Meanwhile, a number of famous TV stars will also be on show for the celebrity team.

Emmerdale star Jamie Shelton, who plays Robbie Lawson in the hit ITV soap, is the latest celebrity to sign-up for the event.

A number of the cast from the BBC One cast of Our Girl will also be involved.

Mark Armstrong and Sean Sagar are the two latest actors from the Our Girl cast to sign-up for the match.

Meanwhile, the celebrity side will be managed by Angela Lonsdale, who plays the mum of Michelle Keegan’s character Georgie Lane in the show.

Kick-off will be at 2.30pm.

Adults can watch the charity football match for £5, while children under 16 will be allowed to enter for free.

Tickets are now on sale by calling 07855 538992.

They will also be available from The Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

Contact Danny Amt, John Afa Daly or go to the AFA and AMT Charity Football Match: Widnes Facebook page for further information.