FOOTBALL legends and soap stars are to take part in a memorial soccer competition in tribute to Bolton-born World Cup hero Alan Ball.

Actors from Coronation Street, EastEnders, Hollyoaks and Emmerdale are set to play in a "Battle of the Soaps" football match later this month at Milton Keynes' new flagship stadium.

Bolton television presenter Vernon Kay has also been tipped to put on his football shorts in tribute to Farnworth's most famous son.

The stadium, soon to be home to the MK Dons, will then host a match between a star-studded squad of England soccer legends and celebrities versus a World XI.

Already confirmed are ex-England stars John Barnes and Graeme Le Saux, who are set to play alongside former rugby players Matt Dawson and Ben Cohen and actor Danny Dyer.

Former footballers also rumoured to be playing are Jamie Redknapp, Bruce Grobbelaar, Lee Sharpe, Paul Merson and Matt Le Tissier, as well as radio presenters JK and Joel and singer Simon Webbe.

Organisers are hoping that former Italy and Chelsea player Gianfranco Zola will one of the foreign stars to play in the World XI.

The game, for the Alan Ball Memorial Cup, will be the centrepiece of five hours of broadcasts on Sky One and Sky Two on Sunday, July 29, celebrating not only the new stadium but also the 40th birthday of the city of Milton Keynes.

Lester Holcombe, chief executive of Toast, the production company behind the event, said: "Milton Keynes was born in the afterglow of England's 1966 World Cup win.

"As such, it is a fitting venue in which to celebrate the life of Alan Ball, one of English football's best-loved sons."

Ball was the youngest member of Alf Ramsey's World Cup-winning England team.

He was born at his grandparents' home in Brookhouse Avenue, Farnworth.

He died in April, aged 61, after suffering a heart attack while trying to put out a bonfire at his Hampshire home. His funeral was held at Winchester Cathedral.

Tickets for The Alan Ball Memorial Cup: England v The World are £30 for a family ticket (two adults and two children), £12 adults and £6 children, and are available from www.ticketmaster.co.uk or 0870 145 1179.