Soccer Saturday LIVE in Tenerife! For two days Tenerife turned into the home of Sky's Soccer Saturday when Chris Kamara, Phil Thompson, Charlie Nicholas, Paul Merson, Ian Dowie, and Max Rushden came to help raise money for Marie Curie with a charity golf tournament and gentlemens evening.

TOTAL RAISED...OVER £20,000 (click here to track donation>>)

Merson and Co dazzle at Showtime’s grand charity event! The evening after the successful golf event at Amarilla Golf saw the charity focus switch to the Showtime venue at Karting Las Americas. Tickets had sold out months ago, and over 225 people attended Soccer Saturday Live! It was the first time the guys from the popular Sky Sports show had done an evening event as a “team”, and their infectious camaraderie set the tone for a fabulous evening. Pictures were taken with the celebrities at the start of the evening, before they were introduced to the crowd. They all received a warm ovation, and none more so than Arsenal legend Paul Merson, who tripped and fell on to the stage head first! A film of some of the funniest Soccer Saturday moments, including the famous Chris Kamara “Beavers” section, brought the house down, before the main part of the evening got underway.

Liverpool legend Phil Thompson was the opening speaker, and he put himself in the frame for a spot at the Tenerife Comedy Club. Thommo's polished after-dinner speaking delivery won over even the staunchest Man United fan. After his standing ovation, it was the turn of Paul Merson. Former midfielder Merse had obviously gotten over his earlier fall (Dorada works wonders it seems), as he stormed the show with his hilarious tales of life as a trainee footballer. Dolphin waxing, bets with Gazza, trips to William Hill and run-ins with Graham Taylor will be retold in Tenerife bars for years to come. After the main course, it was the turn of Ricky Hatton. Along with Soccer Am host Max Rushden and former West Ham player Iain Dowie, Ricky had flown in at short notice to replace Jeff Stelling and Alan McInally. The Hitman didn’t disappoint and even managed to slay Oasis Fm’s Roscoe, who was hosting the evening, with a quip about his suit.

Chris Kamara rounded off the after-dinner speeches with a spectacular set that lampooned the missing Jeff Stelling. Soccer Saturday Live followed the deserts and liquors as the celebrity panel took a question-and-answer session. Celtic legend Charlie Nicholas fielded a few questions on the club’s demise, while musing on the joys of the return of Kirsty Gallagher to Sky Sports News. Ricky Hatton picked David Haye to see off Wladimir Klitschko in their forthcoming fight, while Paul Merson tried to get the bookies’ table to take a 5,000-euro wager on Harry Redknapp being the next Chelsea manager. Max Rushden had some interesting views on his show and the Soccerettes, and Iain Dowie made his case for being the next West Ham manager. Phil Thompson revealed that he wouldn’t swop his European Cup-winners medals for a World Cup success, and Chris Kamara explained how Manchester United could beat Barcelona in the Champions League final. The rest of the banter stays in the room! A round of heads-or-tails raised nearly 900 euros, and there was even more collected for the Marie Curie Cancer Care charity through a raffle and auction. The final total was just a couple of euros shy of 20,000 euros, but the celebrities put their hands in the pockets to boost the total up to £20,000! It was a remarkable evening and a fantastic few days. So many people helped in so many ways to make the week a roaring success. Special thanks must go to Greg, from Hole In The Wall, all the staff at Showtime, Club La Costa and Venture Restaurants.And yes, plans are already being drawn up for next year’s extravaganza!