The Match (Sky One TV series)

"The Match" is a reality TV show on Sky One in which a group of celebrities form a football team to compete against a team of former professional footballers (The Legends). The show begins with a large squad of celebrities who train and live together, all aiming to be selected for "The Match" against the team of legends. The show has also been published in Switzerland in 2006 and 2008 on SF 2.

In Great Britain, three editions of the programme have been made, one in early 2004, one in late 2005 and one in October 2006. The program is hosted by Mark Durden-Smith, Ulrika Jonsson (2004) and Zoe Ball (2005 & 2006). The matches are played at St James' Park, Newcastle. In the Swiss version, the matches were held at Espenmoos in St. Gallen (2006) and at Allmend Stadion in Lucerne (2008).

Participants

The show features one of English football's best known managers, Graham Taylor, who manages the celebrity team. Players on the legends team have included Ally McCoist, Matt Le Tissier and John Barnes, among others. Notable members of the celebrities team have included Jonathan Wilkes, Ralf Little, Philip Olivier, MC Harvey, Terry Alderton and Darren Campbell.The Match has never been won by the celebrities - losing 2-1 in 2004 and 2-0 in 2005 and 2006. The only goal the celebrities have ever scored was one that many believe to be a fluke by Jonathan Wilkes when his apparent cross looped over the head of 63-year old goalkeeper Peter Bonetti.

In Switzerland, the Celebrities ("Die Promis") lost 1-6 against the Legends ("Die Legenden") in 2006 and 1-2 in 2008.

The Match: Series 3 (2006)

Series 3 of The Match was shown during September and October 2006.

Participants

* Martin Offiah
* Chris Hollins
* Rocky Marshall (dropped in public vote on October 6)
* Leo Ihenacho (dropped in public vote on October 2)
* Blair McDonough
* Craig Kelly
* James Hooton (dropped due to injury on October 3)
* Brian McFadden (dropped in public vote on October 4)
* Ralf Little
* Jeff Brazier
* Anthony Hutton
* Tommy Craig
* Harvey
* Michael Greco (dropped in public vote on October 5)
* Glenn Lamont
* Darren Campbell
* Danny Young
* Mark Bosnich
* Alex Lawler
* Sam Robertson
* Alec Stewart (Captain)

Final match

Celebrities starting XI

ee also

*FC Nerds
*The Club (Australian reality show)

External links

* [http://www.skyone.co.uk/thematch3/ Official Sky One/The Match 3 website]
* [http://www.dermatch.sf.tv/ website of the Swiss version "Der Match"]