TWO journalists are preparing to swap the newsroom for the theatre of dreams when they take part in a charity football tournament at Old Trafford next week.

Andrew Bardsley, reporter for the Bury Times and Radcliffe Times, and Liam Thorp, his colleague on sister paper The Bolton News, are both lifelong Manchester United fans and thrilled at the prospect of stepping out onto the hallowed turf next Wednesday as part of The Christie’s Dream Team Cup.

They will form part of a Media United team that will compete with six other sides during the day followed by a talk from United legend Lee Sharpe.

The money raised on the day will benefit teenage and young cancer patients at The Christie and support the new Palatine Treatment Centre.

Andrew is a goalkeeper and said: “I had a few trials with clubs as a youngster, but this is the closest I have got to stepping over that white line.”

Liam added: “The spine-tingling moment will be walking down the tunnel where I have watched my heroes appear so many times.”

Mary McLaughlin, from The Christie Charity, said: “We are delighted to be a charity partner of Manchester United and are able to offer this unique fundraising opportunity.”