HIS playing days may be long gone, but former Manchester United hero Bryan Robson was happy to show off his silky skills to raise charity funds.

Bryan and wife Denise were among the celebrity guests at the special black-tie ball at Mere Golf and Country Club in Cheshire organised by Italian restaurateur-to-the-stars Marcello Giannini, who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Marcello's aim was to raise thousands at the ball for charity Christie's Friends, which helps support patients at the cancer hospital and families and carers. So football great Bryan was only too happy to do his bit when a guest cheekily said they'd give £1,000 to the charity if he could successfully complete a series of keepy-uppies in front of the hundreds of guests - which included former Manchester police chief John Stalker.

Julie Arnold, of event organisers Entertainment Today, tells me: "Bryan was brilliant - he was challenged to keep the ball going for so many keepy-uppies, which he successfully did in front of everybody, scooping another £1,000 for the charity."

In total £40,000 was raised at the Italian-themed night, attended by a host of Marcello's family, friends and customers from his former Hale restaurant.

Marcello said: "If it had only been half as good I would have been happy." Tweet