HOSPICE patients have been chatting to a former Premier League footballer ahead of a charity boxing match to raise money.

Argentinian player Julio Arca, who is fighting fundraiser Mark Solan, dropped in to St Cuthbert’s Hospice in Durham this morning. (Friday, February 26)

The ex-Sunderland and Middlesbrough player spoke to former miners Bill Firby, 90, from New Brancepeth, about football and Len Harvey, 76, from Durham, about boxing.

Mr Arca, who is 35, said: “I always like this type of thing, to talk to people of different ages as they talk about different things.

“It gets you out of your normal routine and they seem to like spending time with us. It is something I would like to do more often if I can.

“I never thought I would be doing this sort of thing, but the fight is for a great cause and hopefully we will raise a lot of money to help different charities.”

Mr Firby, a Sunderland fan, played in goal for Brandon, Tow Law, Murton, Spennymoor, Consett, New Brancepeth and Ushaw Moor in his younger days.

He said: “He (Arca) is retired now from the first team at 35. I was just coming into my heyday then.

“I was telling him when I was playing we used to come out of the pit of a Saturday morning at 12 o’ clock and get onto the field at 2 o’clock."

Mr Arca was joined by Daryll Hall, from Newton Aycliffe, who is his teammate at South Shields FC, and has organised the evening of boxing at Rainton Meadows Arena, near Houghton-le-Spring, on Saturday, May 7.

The Solan v Arca bout is top of the bill.

Mr Solan, 42, from Spennymoor, is charity champion who has raised over £45,000 since the death of his mother, Kay, and grandmother, Edith, who both died of cancer.

He went on to launch The Solan Connor Fawcett Family Trust to support families affected by the disease.

Mr Solan, a clothing store manager in Durham, has previously taken part in a white-collar boxing tournament, been nominated for a Pride of Britain Award, and is now in training once again for the three round fight in May.

He said: “It is for charity and a bit of fun, but we are both competitive and we will both want to win. I am not going to go in there to try to hurt him, but I am going to try to box his head off.”

For every ticket Mr Solan sells The Solan Connor Fawcett Family Cancer Trust, which hopes to secure charitable status to expand its work, will get £10.

He also hopes to raise £1,000 in sponsorship via a charity webpage at crowdfunding.justgiving.com/Team-Solan-1

A range of organisations, including the hospice, will be benefitting.

Tickets, priced £30 for seats and £25 for standing, can be obtained via Mr Solan or the trust’s Facebook page.