THE final whistle will sound on Wednesday to end the bidding for this year's Football Aid - and big-hearted Bolton Wanderers fans have already splashed out thousands to help raise a bumper total for good causes.

Hundreds of fans have been bidding on the Football Aid website www.footballaid.com for the chance to pull on the Wanderers' shirt and play on their field of dreams at the Reebok Stadium. Their passion for the team is helping to raise tens of thousands of pounds for Football Aid's chosen charities.

Fans have jumped at the chance to take part in the end of season games and bidding has already passed last year's total of nearly £250,000.

Officially endorsed by the FA, the FA Premier League and the Nationwide League, and the SFA, Scottish Premier League and Scottish Football League, Football Aid is a charity venture offering supporters all over the country the opportunity to follow in their idols' footsteps and play on the turf graced by their favourite team.

Fifty top clubs in England and Scotland have given over their stadia to Football Aid, which has Newcastle and former England manager Bobby Robson as its patron.

Dozens of well-known football figures will be lending their support to Football Aid to captain the teams. Liam Brady, Robbie Earle, Peter Beardsley, Brian Robson and Terry Butcher are among the football heroes who will be leading the supporters out of the tunnels.

Up to 27 places are up for grabs at each club to fans registering the highest bids on the Football Aid website www.footballaid.com and only a few positions remain to bid for at each club.