Singing trio 'The Soldiers' are still riding high on their recent chart success with their single 'Coming Home' and will continue their reign when they perform prior to the match on Thursday 12 November 2009 at Reading's Madejski Stadium.
'The Soldiers', who are decorated veterans and serving soldiers, recorded 'Coming Home' during breaks in their duties.
Lance Corporal Ryan Idzi, the youngest member of the trio, is the most recognisable member of the group after his appearance on The X Factor in 2007 when he made it through to the boot camp stage of the show after singing 'Lean on Me' at his first audition.
The Heroes Cup football match is being played in support of the charity Help for Heroes.
From Caerphilly in South Wales, LCpl Idzi, who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan as part of 20th Armoured Brigade, said:
"It will be an absolute honour to open the Heroes Cup and perform our songs for Reading and I'm bringing my boots just in case I get a chance to play with all those legends."
Another member of 'The Soldiers' is Gulf War veteran Sergeant Major Gary Chilton who joined the Royal Armoured Corps in 1984 straight from school and has performed around the world including in a special show with Jools Holland at Twickenham.
Sgt Maj Chilton fought in the Gulf War and was presented with the Gulf Medal by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales upon his return.
The third member of the group is Sergeant Richie Maddocks from Oldham, Greater Manchester, who enlisted in the British Army at the age of 16 and has travelled throughout Europe, Canada, Cyprus, Finland and the Falkland Islands. Sgt Maddocks also fought in the Gulf War and was awarded the Gulf Medal.
Sgt Maddocks said:
"Our songs are feel-good songs that you'd associate with normal guys in the Army. 'With a Little Help from my Friends' was particularly pertinent. You could say that when you're a little bit down there's always someone there to pick you up, brush you down and get on with the day's work. That's just so typical of Army life."
The England squad for the Heroes Cup will include footballers Andy Cole, Paul Gascoigne, Les Ferdinand and Des Walker. The footballers will be joined by celebrities Paddy McGuinness, Danny Dyer, Rupert Graves, Angus Deayton, Simon Webbe and Chris Fountain, plus sportsmen Mark Ramprakash, Darren Gough, Alec Stewart and Kyran Bracken.
Players already signed up for the 'Rest of the World' are footballers Ally McCoist, Steffen Freund, Toto Schillachi, Tugay, Jurgen Kohler, Owen Coyle, Thomas Helmer and Anders Limpar, sportsmen Iwan Thomas, Kenny Logan and Justin Marshall, actor Tamer Hassan and TV presenters Craig Doyle and Donal MacIntyre.
Lining up alongside the stars, and making it a true celebration and a tribute to our forces personnel, will be current servicemen representing the Army, Navy and Air Force who have been selected to play for their country and as representatives of the Armed Forces.
On the addition of 'The Soldiers' to the Heroes Cup event, players' spokesman Paul Gascoigne said:
"It looks like it's going to be a great night and really emotional, the lads sing from the heart and it will be a great way to kick things off.
"What our troops are doing is amazing, they are true heroes and they deserve all of the tributes and support they are getting. We have a chance to pay our respects by giving them a great night of football."
Proceeds from the Heroes Cup and 'The Soldiers' debut album 'Coming Home' will be donated to Help for Heroes and other groups which support British forces.