Steve Harper’s Testimonial Will See Stellar Newcastle XI Take On AC Milan Side Featuring Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi & Alessandro Costacurta

Chris Wright

6th, September 2013

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By Chris Wright

Soccer - Steve Harper File Photo

Not that he wasn’t a fine servant for the club over the years, but the calibre of players turning out for goalkeeper Steve Harper’s imminent 20-year testimonial at Newcastle United beggars belief.

Harper’s Newcastle are set to turn out against the AC Milan Glorie (i.e, legends) at St James’ Park next Wednesday evening, with the likes of Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, Zvonimir Boban and Alessandro Costacurta all included in the Rossoneri squad.

Newcastle’s squad isn’t exactly shabby either, with Alan Shearer, Les Ferdinand, Peter Beardsley, David Ginola, Andy Cole and Faustino Asprilla set to pull on the black and white one more time in a bid to raise funds for the Newcastle United Foundation, Great North Children’s Hospital and the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

These here be the full squads for Harper’s testimonial, the guest list is nothing short of spectacular…

Newcastle: Steve Harper, Pavel Srnicek, Shay Given, John Beresford, Olivier Bernard, Nikos Dabizas, Brian Kilcline, Darren Peacock, Alessandro Pistone, Steve Watson, Joey Barton, Lee Bowyer, Nicky Butt, Lee Clark, Kieron Dyer, Ruel Fox, Keith Gillespie, David Ginola, Liam O’Brien, Scott Sellars, Nolberto Solano, Steve Stone, Alan Thompson, Rob Lee, Faustino Asprilla, Peter Beardsley, Andrew Cole, Les Ferdinand, Paul Kitson, Alan Shearer.

AC Milan: Sebastiano Rossi, Massimo Taibi, Franco Baresi, Roberto Favalli, Paolo Maldini, Roberto Mussi, Massimo Oddo, Guiseppe Pancaro, Pietro Vierchowod, Ibrahim Ba, Zvonimir Boban, Alessandro Costacurta, Angelo Carbone, Federico Giunti, Christian Lantignotti, Gianluigi Lentini, Mark van Bommel, Daniele Massaro, Christian Vieri.

Not bad for a bloke who basically made a career out of being a second-choice stopper! Lee Bowyer and Joey Barton in the same midfield? Kudos to whoever sneaked that one past Health & Safety.