Welshpool Town get Sky and a Premier League ace

Sky television cameras are to film a Welshpool Town football match this month – with a former Premier League star talking to the field for the club, it was revealed today.

Sky's Gillette Soccer Saturday will descend on Maesydre on January 21 to feature the club's Spar Mid Wales League division one clash with Rhayader Town.

And the ailing Lilywhites, who have won just twice all season, will have a mystery former top-flight player in their ranks after Sky agreed to lend a helping hand.

One of the Soccer Saturday pundits, who include former England stars Paul Merson and Matt Le Tissier, will sign for the Mid Wales men for that one game.

Welshpool, languishing near the foot of the table, hit the headlines on Sky two weeks ago when Soccer Saturday presenter Jeff Stelling read out their 10-1 hammering at the hands of local rivals Waterloo Rovers.

After becoming the butt of jokes on the programme, Pool boss Dave Jones wrote to the show's producers outlining the plight of the cash-strapped Montgomeryshire club who almost folded at the start of the season with no players or committee.

His e-mail was read out by Stelling the following Saturday, and since then the story has snowballed with the highlight of Pool's clash with Rhayader set to be broadcast to the nation. Mr Jones said: "I knew that Sky were keen to feature the club, but I wasn't expecting this. I'm really pleased for everyone at the club."