Quinn has €1.6m charity target is sight

Veteran striker Niall Quinn tonight aims to hit the target by raising €1.6m for charity from his testimonial match.

The Republic of Ireland and Sunderland forward has pledged to donate the entire proceeds of the match between his club side and national side to help fund two hospital children’s departments.

The 35-year-old father-of-two aims to raise €800,000 for Sunderland Royal Infirmary and a matching amount for Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children in his home town of Dublin.

Other cash has been earmarked for a children’s programme in India which helps impoverished children in urban districts of Calcutta.

The match is the first benefit game in which the entire proceeds have been given to good causes and has been nationally praised by both sporting and political leaders, including Tony Blair.

The match will be played at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light with tickets available from the ticket office and cash turnstiles up until kick-off time.

Over recent months people have also been urged to buy ‘‘non-attendance’’ tickets for £10 (€16) for which they will receive a commemorative ticket and match programme with their money going into the kitty.

Quinn, who lives in Sedgefield, Co Durham, promised himself years ago that if he was ever granted a testimonial the money would go to good causes rather than his own bank account.

He has previously said of the unique benefit match, which was granted by the club earlier this year: ‘‘When I started this I felt very awkward.

‘‘I wondered if I was doing the right thing or whether I was making a show of myself - but the reaction from the club and the people of the North East and Ireland has made this happen.’’

Quinn, who intends to play 45 minutes for each side, will be jetting off with the Republic of Ireland for the 2002 World Cup later this week as his country’s leading goalscorer with 21 international strikes.

The event has captured the imagination of the country and the city council is planning a warm welcome for the thousands of Irish visitors expected to flock to Wearside.

The majority of hotels and guest houses across the city are full and civic leaders have transformed the city into a sea of red white and green with banners, ribboned baskets and lamp-post signs decorating the streets.