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JoeGarner


Garner’s treble leaves PNE on brink


• Whalley’sJoeGarnercel- ‘ ebrated his League 1 Player of the Year award with a hat-trick to put Preston on the brink of promotion.


Will Greenwood.pictured with the Webb EllisCup, is setto turn outforHurstGreenonSunday I ’V • ambition! ' •


Will Greenwood once said that he would swap his England


World Cup winners’medalfor a chance to play up front for Hurst Green Football Club.


Nowhis village team has grant­ ed the Blackburn-born rugby union star his wish.


Hurst Green, who play in


the West Lancashire League First Division, have arranged


, a special friendly in Green­ wood’s honour next month.


World Cup winner to finally pull on the Hurst Green number nine shirt Greenwood, educated at


Stonyhurst Saint Mary’s Hall,


' starredinthe2003WorldCup final against Australia, won by Jonny Wilkinson’s last- minute.


And he said: “People ask


me if I have any regrets in life? “Just one - that I never


wore the Hurst Green Foot­ ball Club shirt/


tome.


“That’s howmuch it means • i


“I was always looking over


our garden fence on Smithy Row, Hurst Green going, ‘Go on.giveusashout-pickmel’” He added: “I can’t believe


I’m going to wear the number nine top finally.” Hurst Green vice chairman


Ian Barton said: “Will Green­ wood is our number one fan - and the game is a way of say­ ing thank-you to Will for all his support over the years. “Will did a sportsman’s din­ ner for us at Longridge, and


Brian Ashton,and it raised £'7,000.


“That helped the club gain


admission to the West Lanca­ shire League with the ground improvements that we were able to make.


“He has played a huge role. “Nowhe can live the dream


by wearing the number nine shirt for the village team he has always supported.” The match' will see Hurst Green FC take on a Hurst


Green XI and will take place on Sunday at 2 p.m. . Any money raised will


be donated to the charity of Greenwood’s choice.


Greenwood, 42, played for


Harlequins and Leicester Ti­ gers at centre, while also rep­ resenting England 55 times between 1997-2004, and he was also part of the British


and Irish Lions squads for the tours in 1997,2001 and 2005,


making two appearances.


Garner bagged all three goals on Saturday at Deep- dale against Swindon Town to take his tally to 26 goals for the season - and 50 in 100 games for North End.


MK Dons’ 3-2 win at Ro­


chdale leaves them a point behind Preston, with one game to play - with MK Dons hosting relegated Yeovil and North End at Colchester on Sunday. Garner, named in the


■ PFA League1 team of the season on Sunday night, Said: “Obviously it is nice to play 100 games and score my 50 th goal. “It is always nice to


score goals, especially at Deepdale. “Everyone went home


happy and we go into Sun­ day now knowing that three points willget us pro­ moted, and we will prepare well this week and go to


’ Colchester confident that we can do that."


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