Manchester City legends set to light up Tameside hospice fundraiser

Three legendary names in Manchester City history — Joe Corrigan, Brian Horton and David White — are set to take centre stage at the 6th Annual Willow Wood Hospice Football Night this September in Dukinfield.

The event, which has become a highlight in the Tameside calendar, will take place on Thursday 26th September 2025 at Dukinfield Masonic Hall. Doors open at 7pm, with the event kicking off at 8pm. With just 200 tickets available, organisers say almost all have already been snapped up.

Former Tameside Mayor and event organiser, Chris Smith said, “It’s amazing, we only have 200 tickets available, in total, and almost all the tickets have sold”. He added, “We raised over £5,000, for Willow Wood Hospice, last year so clearly, we want to beat that amount this year. This years group of footballers are very much Manchester City centred but we’ve had Martyn Buchan, Trevor Ross, George Oghani, Ella Toone and many more in past years and its always a very funny and interesting night as the guest footballers reveal stories from their past that both astonish and amuse.”

The evening promises a unique blend of footballing nostalgia, humour, and candid stories from the past, with former Premier League referee Roger Dilkes hosting the event. 

Among this year’s guests is legendary Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Corrigan. Now 76, Corrigan represented the Blues across three decades, from 1967 to 1983. Known as “Big Joe,” he remains one of the club’s most respected figures.

Reflecting on his time at the club, Corrigan said, “When I look back at my Manchester City career, it was incredible.

“It was a humbling experience to start with. I was a working-class lad; my Mum and Dad were working class – my dad was in the Army in Korea - and I had fought hard to get into Sale Boys’ Grammar School.

“So, when you get a chance to join a club like Manchester City with such a massive stature, you can’t describe it. I suppose it was a bit like ‘local boy does good.’ It was just amazing that I had come from a council house in Sale Moor, playing on the local parks to playing for City at Wembley and representing your country, it’s just an amazing scenario”

Joining him is former City manager Brian Horton, also 76, whose managerial CV spans over 1,000 matches. Horton, who led City between 1993 and 1995, also managed Hull City, Oxford United, Huddersfield Town, and several others. In 2023, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and is now an advocate for men to learn their risk. His presence at the event will not only provide football insight but also a powerful personal message.

Completing the line-up is David White, the electric winger who rose through the ranks of City’s famed 1986 FA Youth Cup-winning team. White, 57, made a name for himself with blistering pace and clinical finishing, not least when he netted a hat-trick in City’s unforgettable 10-1 victory over Huddersfield Town. With 96 goals for the club and an England cap to his name, White’s stories promise to be as thrilling as his playing days.

The Willow Wood Hospice Football Night takes place at Dukinfield Masonic Hall, Old Road, Dukinfield, SK16 4EN. Tickets are just £15.00 and include an evening filled with footballing anecdotes and community spirit — all for a fantastic cause.

To secure your place, call 0161 718 7911 or email smithowls@gmail.com.

All proceeds go to Willow Wood Hospice, helping support vital palliative and end-of-life care across Tameside and Glossop.