Football fans will be given the chance to play at Wales’ Olympic-rated stadium this week, as part of the successful Millennium Stadium Community Events scheme.

Four charity football matches will be held at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium as the venue opens its doors to support local community and charitable organisations in Wales.

Back-to-back soccer games will be played out over two days, kicking off tomorrow (Tuesday 14 May) at 2pm when Wales Veterans Football League stage Wales Veterans v England Veterans Charity International Football match in aid of Prostate Cancer UK.

Football lovers from each of the four teams will represent a range of charities including Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Transverse Myelitis Society and Football Aid as they re-enact life as an international footballer on the hallowed Millennium Stadium turf.

The games will mark the last sporting action on the Millennium’s pitch before the world-championship Speedway Grand Prix launches the 2013 summer season which also includes concerts by Rihanna (on June 10) and Bruce Springsteen (on July 23).      

“Before the Speedway bikes roar at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday 1 June, we are opening the Stadium doors to local footballers raising significant funds for charitable causes. For some this opportunity will be a trip down memory lane, as with the Wales Veterans game tomorrow, while for others this is a fantastic, once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Gerry Toms, stadium manager at the venue which hosted eleven Olympic football games during London 2012.

“International football captured the imagination of sports fans all over Wales during the Olympic Games last summer and I’m sure the opportunity to play in an Olympic venue will inspire all those taking part in the charity matches this week.” 

The stadium’s Community Events initiative invites not-for-profit organisations in Wales to bring their events to the world-class sporting arena, free of the hire costs associated with major commercial events.

Already this month the project has played host to the Stoke Association and their Step out for Stroke walk around the pitch at the home of Welsh sport.

Further information and application details can be found at the Millennium Stadium website millenniumstadium.com. This week’s games are: 

Tuesday 14 May         

Kick off 1400: Wales Veterans Football League stage Wales Veterans v England Veterans Charity International Football match in aid of Prostate Cancer UK

Kick off 1800: Charity Football Match to support Transverse Myelitis Society & Multiple Sclerosis Society

Wednesday 15 May   

Kick off 1200: ‘Hugh James Russel Jenkins Cup’in support of Ty Hafan

Kick off 1600: ‘Your Country v Rest of the World’ match for Football Aid