FOOTBALLER Alan Shearer has revealed he will be donating all the proceeds from his money-spinning Newcastle United testimonial game to charity.

As The Northern Echo revealed last month, Shearer's testimonial committee has confirmed a Celtic side will be playing against a star-studded Newcastle XI at St James' Park.

It is the legendary captain's offer to donate all the proceeds from the match to good causes - which is likely to be more than £1m - that has caught the imagination.

The gesture of goodwill from the 35-year-old bears similarities to the way former Sunderland striker Niall Quinn became the first footballer to pledge the entire £1m raised to children's hospitals, in May 2002.

And Shearer - Newcastle's all-time leading scorer after beating Jackie Milburn's 200-goal record recently - said: "I hope that by pledging the money from my testimonial game to charity and worthy causes that people less fortunate will also benefit in some way from my football career.

"I've lived a boyhood dream, I've played in front of the most loyal fans in the world, captained my country, played for the team I supported as a boy, and broken the goalscoring record of an absolute Tyneside legend."

When Shearer retires at the end of the season, he will bring to an end a glorious career that boasts a Premiership winners' medal from his time at Blackburn and 63 England caps.

He has never been able to fulfil the dream of ending Newcastle's long wait for silverware, but still hopes that will come in the form of the FA Cup in his final season.

Nevertheless, his outstanding goal record for the Magpies has ensured he will be remembered as one of the club's finest players - and is widely tipped to return as manager at some stage.

Chairman Freddy Shepherd said: "Alan will be remembered by today's generation as the greatest player to play for Newcastle United and as one of England's and the world's most celebrated players."

One of the beneficiaries of Shearer's donation to charity will be the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. He will also launch an Alan Shearer Academy Scholarship, where an under-16 player from the region will be awarded a two-year scholarship contract.

Season ticket holders can apply for tickets for the May 11 testimonial between March 1 and 20. They will then go on general sale on March 24. Celtic's 3,000 allocation will go on sale from March 1.