A CLEANING company boss who paid £3,000 to play in goal at Darlington Football Club's fundraising match was last night nursing a broken finger.

Andrew Scullion, who runs Total Cleaning Company, saved a shot from Darlington striker Barry Conlon that broke his finger.

The lifelong Darlington fan was playing in goal for a team including Paul Gascoigne, Bryan Robson and Kenny Dalglish in the all-star game to raise funds for crisis-hit Quakers.

Mr Scullion said: "My finger is cracked down one side - but it was worth it.

"I knew it was broken the moment it happened. I made a save and, as I went down, my weight went on to my finger and it bent right back.

"It will heal in time but playing in that match was worth every second and every penny - even a broken finger."

Others who won a place in the match following the auction were Bradley Woods, managing director of Technocopy, Kevin McDaid, managing director of Agility Systems, and Paul Colman, who works at Magnet, in the town.

Darlington fan Mr Woods scored a goal in the all-star game and described the moment as "absolutely brilliant".

He said: "It was a dream come true - just to be in the changing rooms with all those world-class players was equally as good as playing on the pitch with them.

"To score a goal at the end of the game was a lifetime ambition, especially in front of 14,000 people, the biggest crowd I have ever seen there.

"The stars were passing the ball to me, shouting my name, it was incredible. Even though they are world-class players they were asking about the club and wishing us well."

Mr Colman, who played in the second all-star line-up against Darlington's Wembley squads from 1996 and 2000, said: "It was really nerve-wracking but one of the best days of my life. Everyone was so nice, David Hodgson treated us as if we were stars too.

"I was running on adrenaline when I was playing upfront with Lee Sharpe. If you did something good, the players were so complimentary."

Mr McDaid, who played full-back in the first game, flanked by Bryan Robson and Chris Waddle, said: "It was tremendous that the ex-internationals would give their time to support Darlington FC and it was a privilege playing on the same side as them.

"I think David Hodgson did a brilliant job organising the event and I hope the fans get behind the club at the next home game - it's crucial."

Lewis Raper, a 14-year-old Hummersknott School pupil, was linesman for 15 minutes after his father, Neil, paid £100 to the club to surprise him.

Lewis, who yesterday described the game as "fun", said Gazza had offered to swap places with him on the sidelines after he flagged the former international player offside several times.