Jonathan Wilkes

By Ben Bradley: Jonathan Wilkes is hoping this year’s Soccer Aid match will help raise £10 million for charity.

The Stoke-on-Trent actor is again involved in the event which raises cash for UNICEF.

And this year’s proceeds will be used to help families in Haiti rebuild their lives after the devastating earthquake.

Speaking to StaffsLive, Wilkes said: “We’re looking forward to raising money and the majority of what we have done with Soccer Aid is for Haiti.

“We’re going to go over and see what we have achieved after raising £6 million.

“As a celebrity, Soccer Aid allows you to live out a boyhood fantasy.

“You get to play against famous professionals and raise a shed load of money for charity at the same time for people for desperately need it. It’s a win- win situation.

“Fingers crossed it will raise a lot of money and hopefully get to the £10 million barrier, that would be amazing but we’ll see.”

Wilkes is famously known as the best friend of singer Robbie Williams, and the Potters pals dreamed up the idea of Soccer Aid between them.

Wilkes added: “We came up with the idea and put it forward to the television companies. We did it just before we went to the World Cup last time.

“As we’re going to the World Cup everyone is excited and I can’t wait, the summer can’t come quick enough for me.

“We’re doing it at Old Trafford three days before the World Cup game, so everyone will have World Cup fever.”

The game will pitch a team of celebrities against ex- professional footballers in what has been dubbed ’England v Rest of the World’.

Players who have featured in the past include celebrities like Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Theakston. Footballing legends such as Luis Figo and Diego Maradona have also starred.

It is hoped the sides will be announced soon and it’s believed star players such as World Cup winner Zinedine Zidane could make an appearance.

Wilkes has played in the previous two games and joked that he has had a positive effect on the England team: “I can’t believe I am not going to the World Cup.

“When you think about it I’ve played two games for England scored the winner and put in a man of the match performance.

“At the second game at Wembley I scored again. I have scored two in two, my record speaks for itself. I should be there!”

This year’s match is at Old Trafford on June 6 and tickets are on sale.

For details on tickets log onto click here or call 0844 576 2010.