THE image of modern-day footballers isn't a good one. The public perception of the elite players is that they earn obscene amounts of money, with transfer deals, wage demands and the value of their image rights being at their top of their personal agendas.

Of course, that is a generalisation and there are many players who believe in giving back to those who support their luxurious lifestyles.

Niall Quinn is well aware of the privileges football has brought him and tonight he will say thank you with perhaps the biggest personal payback in the history of football.

The Sunderland striker, nearing the end of an illustrious career, has worked tirelessly to organise a charity match at the Stadium of Light, which could net £1m for children's charities.

This is a wonderful initiative by a sportsman who is known throughout the game as honest and down to earth.

The Northern Echo has been proud to support him by regularly publicising the ticket details for tonight's charity match against the Republic of Ireland and arranging advertising support.

But Niall will only reach his £1m target if a full house of 48,000 turn out tonight.

With around 30,000 tickets sold in advance, it remains to be seen whether Niall reaches a goal which would go down in North-East folklore.

So don't let Sunderland's poor season be a factor. Simply turn out tonight for Niall Quinn's charity party.

The big man deserves your support.

Against all odds

WHILE Niall Quinn is busy raising cash, the England squad is on its way to the World Cup via Dubai.

This is a nation of pessimists so no one really thinks we can win, but what hopes we had have been dented by weekend injuries to Newcastle United's Kieron Dyer and Liverpool's Steven Gerrard.

Whatever the fate of those two key players, we wish our boys well in the weeks ahead.

On the flight to Dubai, the squad watched a choice of films: Lord of the Rings, Ocean's Eleven, Vanilla Sky, A Beautiful Mind and Ali.

Given the growing injury list haunting Sven Goran Eriksson, perhaps The English Patient should have been included in the on-flight movie list.