GUISELEY supporters are rallying round to support the club’s legendary goalkeeper Steve Dickinson who is to represent England Veterans in a World Cup Tournament in Thailand next month.

They are getting behind their man with sponsorship for the trip by organising a fund-raising event at The Station pub in Guiseley with a free Guiseley season ticket on offer as one of the prizes in a giant dartboard football game on Thursday evening from 5.30pm.

Dickinson, who played 503 games for Guiseley in a career total of over 1,000 league games, is the goalkeeping coach at Nethermoor.

His career featured a long spell at Southport as well as shorter ones at Leigh Genesis, Bradford Park Avenue, Alfreton Town and Frickley.

Dickinson plays for Harrogate Veterans, who have reached the finals of the National Veterans’ Cup by beating Peckham 4-3 after extra-time at Tamworth.

Dickinson, a former Bradford City youth and reserve team player, will play in the final the night before he leaves for his World Cup trip.

The Lions’ legend will travel with an England squad that includes former Bantams favourite Peter Beagrie and is aiming to complete a

hat-trick of wins having lifted the World Cup in both 2016 and 2017. The FA approved England squad is made up of former professionals still playing regularly with a desire to represent their country.

Dickinson said: “Although I toured abroad with Middlesex Wanderers representative team when I was younger I never expected this sort of thing to come my way and I am really looking forward to it.

“I have enjoyed playing for the Harrogate Veterans team this season and we have done well to reach the National final.”

As well as Beagrie other ex-pros in the squad include former Guiseley winger Lee Elam who, like Dickinson, also joined Southport at one time and moved on to play for a number of Football League clubs.

Dickinson said: “The heat, humidity and the age rules are all challenging with goalkeepers having to be 38 plus,; three players must be between 38 and 43, four have to be between 44 and 49 and three need to be 50 plus.”

The squad flies out on May 30 and after a few days preparation will play a friendly against a Thai Bangkok X1 on June 2.

They will have a three-hour coach journey the following day to Hua Hin where they will check in to the tournament hotel.

There will be a team meeting the following day before the tournament’s Opening Ceremony and World Cup games will follow over the next three days.

Further fixtures depend on England’s progress in the competition with the finals being played on June 9.

Initially conceived by the Senior Football Association of Thailand to promote the country and tourism in the wake of the Tsunami, the tournament has become an annual event that has seen 18 countries being invited to compete over the past 11 years.

An England Seniors side first participated in 2008 with just two ex-pros in their squad but in 2017 there were 16 who between them had amassed over 7,000 league games.