Carr testimonial ticket news

Tickets for Tony Carr's eagerly-awaited testimonial match are now on sale.

The West Ham United Academy Director has been rewarded for more than 35 years of service to the club with the fixture, which will see the Hammers take on Carr's West Ham United All Stars.

The testimonial match will take place at the Boleyn Ground on Wednesday 5 May, with kick-off at 7.45pm. Demand for tickets - which start from as little as £15 for Adults and £7.50 for Over-65s and young adult Academy members and Under-16s - is expected to be high for what promises to be a star-studded occasion.

Executive boxes are also available for this special night, priced at £750 for ten people.

The All Stars squad will include players who have come through the Academy since Carr's arrival as a part-time youth coach in 1973.

In the ensuing 37 years, Carr has been promoted to his current role of Academy Director, overseeing the development of some of England's finest footballers of their generation.

The club won the FA Youth Cup in Carr's first year as Academy Director in 1980/81 and again in 1999/00. They were also runners-up in 1995/96.

The likes of FA Cup-winners Paul Allen, Boys of '86 Alvin Martin, Tony Cottee, George Parris and Alan Dickens, along with current first-team coach Kevin Keen and Paul Ince have all come through the ranks under Carr's watchful eye,

More recently, Manchester United duo Rio Ferdinand and Michael Carrick, Chelsea pair Joe Cole and Frank Lampard Jr, Liverpool right-back Glen Johnson, Sunderland midfielder Kieran Richardson and Fulham left-back Paul Konchesky have all gone on to represent England at senior level.

Of the present first-team squad, no fewer than ten players, including full Wales international Jack Collison and England Under-21 stars Mark Noble, James Tomkins, Junior Stanislas and Freddie Sears, have graduated from Carr's Academy.

Carr has spoken to all the players concerned and all have agreed to play, subject to their respective club manager's decision. Tickets will go on sale to Bondholders and season ticket holders from 9am on Monday 22 February. A club members' sale begins on Saturday 6 March, with any remaining tickets going on general sale from Tuesday 16 March.

Tickets can be purchased online at whufcboxoffice.com, by telephone on 0871 222 2700 via option three and from the West Stand ticket office during normal opening hours.