A MUSEUM has received a reminder of a football match held more than 20 years ago to celebrate the 300th anniversary of an Army regiment.

In October 1989, Middlesbrough played a team from The Green Howards at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, with legends from the football club and the regiment as guests of honour.

The programme from the game, which finished 5-2 to Middlesbrough, now forms part of the collection at The Green Howards Museum, in Richmond, North Yorkshire.

Boro player Wilf Mannion, who served with The Green Howards during the Second World War, was a guest of honour at the match.

He was reported missing in the retreat from Dunkirk, but escaped on a supply ship.

Another main guest was former Boro player Harold Shepherdson, who signed for the club in 1932 after representing Yorkshire Boys at cricket and football.

He also served with The Green Howards during the war.

After his playing career, he became trainer and physiotherapist for the England team for 17 years – serving for 169 matches, including four World Cup campaigns.

The highlight of his career was as trainer for the victorious 1966 England squad.

The programme also refers to another footballer, Green Howards Lieutenant Donald Bell, the only English professional footballer to win the Victoria Cross.

Before the match, the soldiers had taken Middlesbrough players on a march over the moors, firing SA80 assault rifles and being trained in unarmed combat.

Museum director Lynda Powell said: “Despite The Green Howards losing the match, we are delighted to have this special programme as part of the museum’s collection, especially because of its links with great former players who were regimental members, and because it celebrated one of the regiment’s landmarks, its 300 years of history.

“It also underlines the fact that items from The Green Howards’ more recent past are just as important to the museum as older objects.”

The museum, in the market place, is open from 10am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday. It will be open from 12.30pm to 4.30pm on Sundays between May 1 and October 31.

Entry is £3.50 for adults, £3 for concessions and Richmond residents, £1 for those aged 13 to 18 and free for accompanied under-12s.