Mark Wright's Soccer Aid absence explained after starring in six matches

11 June 2023 , 07:00

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Mark Wright's Soccer Aid absence explained after starring in six matches

Football legends will team up with famous celebrity faces once again on Sunday night as Soccer Aid 2023 takes place at Old Trafford.

The now annual match between England and the Rest of the World has raised almost £40million in aid of UNICEF over the last 17 years and it promises to be another incredible night on and off the pitch.

England have strengthened their squad after losing the last three matches with the likes of Jermain Defoe, Gary Cahill, Jack Wilshere and Paul Scholes all getting the nod.

They will be joined by celebrity stars including Danny Dyer and Liam Payne but there will be one notable absence at Old Trafford.

Former TOWIE star Mark Wright has become a regular fixture in Soccer Aid in recent years and has played in the last six matches, often impressing in a left-back role.

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His performances caught the eye of a number of lower league clubs and the 36-year-old was even offered a short-term deal by Crawley in 2020 where he made his professional bow.

But earlier this year he ruled himself out of the Old Trafford match as he already has filming commitments for a number of TV projects.

Mark Wright scores for England in 2022 (Getty Images)

He said back in February: "On a personal level I've decided not to do Soccer Aid this year. I have done it for six years in a row now and I love it, I love the charity and would love to be involved and still raise money for Unicef.

"If I'm around I'll maybe still watch the game, but I just need to keep myself free around that time. I need to let someone else have a go and maybe I'll come back next year but for now I'm going to have a year out."

Wright scored from the penalty spot in a 2-2 draw last year and even found the net in the shootout before England suffered defeat.

It came after he missed out on the original squad list after reportedly upsetting ITV bosses by pulling out of plans to host a new sports reality show.

Lee Mack, representing the World XI, scored the winning penalty in Soccer Aid 2022 ((Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images))

Soccer Aid squads

England

Ex-players - Jill Scot, Jermain Defoe, Karen Carney, Gary Cahill, Jack Wilshere, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Eni Aluko, David James, Nicky Butt

Celebrities - Liam Payne, Danny Dyer, Paddy McGuinness, Bugzy Malone, Tom Grennan, Mo Farah, Alex Brooker, Chunks, Joel Corry, Scarlette Douglas, Asa Butterfield, Tom Hiddleston

World XI

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Ex-players - Ben Foster, Roberto Carlos, Nani, Francesco Totti, Gabriel Batistuta, Hernan Crespo, Patrice Evra, Kaylyn Kyle

Celebrities - Usain Bolt, Lee Mack, Steven Bartlett, Kem Cetinay, Mo Gilligan, Maisie Adam, Tommy Fury, Heather O'Reilly, Noah Beck, Leon Edwards, Sam Claflin, Niko

Liam Prenderville