EASTLEIGH legend Michael Green is set to have his spell for the Hampshire club honoured when an ex-Manchester United outfit come to town next month.

The former Spitfires fan-favourite full-back recorded a fifth-highest 409 appearances before he eventually departed the Silverlake Stadium last summer.

Saints hero Matt Le Tissier will also return to the Silverlake, with the 53-year-old set to manage Green's ex-Eastleigh XI alongside fellow icon Francis Benali.

In the one-off testimonial match, Green will reunite with former teammates to take on a Red Devils team organised by Russell Beardsmore and including the likes of Wes Brown, Keith Gillespie and more.

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“It was meant to be happening a while ago but then COVID hit so it got cancelled and kept getting put back and put back,” Green told the Daily Echo.

“I was always going to have it this summer, but then the club contacted me while I was away and said what about playing an ex-Manchester United side - so it’s all go now trying to get it sorted.

“We were going to play Portsmouth as a pre-season friendly but the Eastleigh team has changed a lot now so it wouldn’t really work. It’s quite hard because I think there’s over 300 players I played with!”

The Silverlake Stadium will play host to the event on Sunday, July 17, with tickets available (£10 adults, £8 concessions and £5 kids) on the Eastleigh club website.

Former stars such as Ben Strevens, Jai Reason, Craig McAllister and Joe Partington will line up alongside recent departees Cav Miley, Andrew Boyce and Danny Hollands.

“I was trying to mix it up, it’s a lot of my mates over the years from the club,” Green explained. “A few of the ones that the fans love, it’s mainly the Conference South winning side and a few of the recent lads.”

Daily Echo: Eastleigh legend Michael Green (Pic: Tom Mulholland)Eastleigh legend Michael Green (Pic: Tom Mulholland)

He continued: ”I enjoyed my whole time there, we always did okay and over the years we had some good FA Cup runs.

“When Strevs was in charge we got to the playoffs and only just lost on penalties. The whole time there was good to be fair – we were always fairly successful.”

Eastleigh were promoted to the then-Conference Premier for the first time in the club’s history with Green among the ranks with a title-winning 2013-14 season.

They reached the National League playoffs during the 2018-19 campaign, beating Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground but suffering eventual penalty defeat to Salford in the semi-final.

Hospitality packages are also available via email greentestimonial@hotmail.com with Le Tissier and Benali taking part in a live Q&A after the match.

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