Russell Beardsmore to manage and play for Red Devils in Iron Aid 2026 clash

Russell Beardsmore will play for the Manchester United Legends XI in our upcoming Iron Aid encounter on Sunday, August 2nd, 2026 (4pm kick-off).

Russell Beardsmore graduated from Manchester United's youth system and made his first-team debut during the 1988–89 season. A cultured midfielder with excellent vision and passing ability, he quickly made an impression, memorably scoring twice on his full league debut in a 3–1 victory over Liverpool at Anfield in April 1989.

Beardsmore went on to make 38 senior appearances for Manchester United, scoring four goals, before his progress was hampered by injury and fierce competition for places as the club entered a hugely successful period under Sir Alex Ferguson. After leaving Old Trafford in 1993, he continued his career with AFC Bournemouth before later playing in Hong Kong and Australia.

Although injuries prevented him from fulfilling his considerable potential at Manchester United, Beardsmore is fondly remembered by supporters for his outstanding performance at Anfield and as one of the talented young players to emerge from the club's academy during the late 1980s.

IRON AID 2026

Scunthorpe United Football Club is delighted to announce the return of Iron Aid, with a Scunthorpe United Legends side set to take on a Manchester United Legends XI in a special pre-season fixture at the Attis Arena on Sunday, August 2nd (4pm kick-off) as part of a wider event with more details to be released in due course.

The highly anticipated event, organised in partnership with Nor-Lait Promotions, will bring together some of the most iconic names from both clubs' histories for a memorable afternoon of football, nostalgia and fundraising.

Iron supporters will once again have the opportunity to see former fan favourites pull on the claret and blue shirt, while a star-studded Manchester United Legends squad promises to attract supporters from across the region.

The match marks the return of the popular Iron Aid concept, which in 2024, as part of the club's 125h anniversary celebrations, raised significant funds for local charities and community causes, whilst creating unforgettable occasions for supporters of all ages.

PLAYERS INVOLVED

As we confirm our ex-professional players line-up, we will begin to confirm them on social media.

If you're a former footballer for the Iron, reading this, and would like to get involved, please get in touch!

CONFIRMED SO FAR...
Manager of the Iron team: TBC
Iron Players: Josh Morris, Sam Togwell, Michael Nelson, Cleveland Taylor, Martyn Woolford

Manchester United Legends manager:
Manchester United Legends players: Chris Eagles, Wes Brown, Russell Beardsmore

Due to the nature of football, and ever-changing cycles, the appearance of some confirmed players may change at short notice.

SPONSORSHIP

There are a number of sponsorship, VVIP, VIP and hospitality packages available for the game.

Please contact Simon North (07472 690709) or Tess Conway (07403 980888) or by emailing [email protected] for further details, with Nor-Lait Promotions handling these packages.