ENGLAND'S World Cup players have teamed up with the Bucks Free Press to sign a football which will be auctioned off for charity.>

England squad sign football for Scannappeal auction

Picture shows Alan Shearer, David Seaman, Rob Lee and David Batty with Graham Goodall

ENGLAND'S World Cup players have teamed up with the Bucks Free Press to sign a football which will be auctioned off for charity.

Captain Alan Shearer, goalkeeper David Seaman and midfielder David Batty are among the footballers to sign the ball which Scannappeal will auction to raise cash for its Uro-Quest appeal.

The internationals agreed to sign the Bucks Free Press ball when we took it along to a photocall at dentist Graham Goodall's surgery on Tuesday.

Mr Goodall, of The Bourne End Dental Practice, Station Road, was recommended to England manager Glenn Hoddle by goalkeeping coach Ray Clemence, who is one of his patients.

A spokesman for the Football Association said: "We are pleased if the football is going to go towards something to help the local community."

The ball will be auctioned at a Scannappeal fundraising dinner at Wycombe Wanderers' Adams Park on June 8. Former Liverpool and England star Emlyn Hughes will be the after-dinner speaker.

The dinner will raise money for the appeal to fund a vital urology department for Wycombe Hospital. If the £250,000 appeal is successful, the department will be the first in South Bucks dedicated to the diagnosis of diseases such as bladder and prostate cancer.

Scannappeal director Penny Hurtley said: "It's brilliant news. Having this football should really make the event go with a bang.

"We have already got some great prizes for the auction, but to have something special like this is fantastic."

After completing his dental checks Mr Goodall, a rugby fan, revealed that centre-half Gareth Southgate had the best set of gnashers in the England squad. He added: "Ninety per cent of the players' teeth were in good condition, but one or two needed a little bit of repair work - one had a wisdom tooth out and one needed a few fillings."

% You can make a bid for the World Cup football before the Scannappeal dinner by telephoning reporter Chris Herbert on (01494) 521212, extension 2219. The BFP will keep readers informed about how the bidding is going. Remember, the more you bid, the more you will be helping charity. Tickets for the dinner cost £30 each and are available by calling Scannappeal on (01494) 727752

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