NEWCASTLE United fan and keen golfer Clive Oliphant has landed a dream birthday present, thanks to his wife, Christine.

The building company director's gift to mark his 44th birthday is the chance to caddie for his footballing hero, Alan Shearer, in a celebrity charity golf pro-am event tomorrow.

Mr Oliphant, a Newcastle United season ticket holder and Durham City Golf Club member, will carry the bag for the former England football captain over the 7,100-yard Roxburghe Golf Course, near Kelso, in the Scottish Borders.

He will rub shoulders with the great and the good, as the professionals include reigning Open champion Paul Lawrie, Spanish whizzkid Sergio Garcia and Swedish star Jesper Parnevik. Apart from Alan Shearer, the celebrity list includes the Duke of York, a seven-handicap player, and actor Hugh Grant.

Mr Oliphant won the chance to carry the bag for the Newcastle number nine, himself a 14-handicap golfer, after his wife began bidding in a local radio auction. When it passed the £300-limit set by the couple, Mr Oliphant enlisted support from his businesses, BDN and Rivergreen Developments, to lodge a winning £600 bid.

He has attracted further donations from some of his business contacts and is hoping to reach an overall figure of £2,000, which will all go to the event's nominated children's charity, the NSPCC's Full Stop campaign.

Mr Oliphant said: "I've never caddied before, but I've got a special map of the course and flag positions, so if I'm asked hopefully I will say the right thing."

Tickets details for tomorrow's charity match are available on (01573) 450333