Rush will also be taking part in a coaching clinic for local children at the Tesco Lotus store in Lad Prao on Saturday from 1.15pm.

As part of its 60th anniversary celebrations, the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand (BCCT) is organising the Masters tournament and also a gala dinner sponsored by property developers Raimon Land on Saturday from 6.30pm at the Amari Boulevard Hotel on Sukhumvit, Soi 5.

Welshman Rush heads an impressive line-up in the Etihad All Stars and will be joined on the field by former Chelsea winger Clive Walker and ESPN commentator Paul Masefield.

Twenty teams are from all over the world will be taking part in the tournament, including sides from Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei together with teams from the Thai, British, German, French and Scandinavian communities in Thailand.

Former Thai national team members Sompol Chomchuen and Nanthapreecha Khamhaeng will also be playing. Rush is one of the game's greatest players. Standing supreme as Liverpool's greatest goalscorer, the lean Welshman was one of the deadliest strikers in football history, blending superb anticipation with lethal finishing.

His attack partnership with Kenny Dalglish is widely rated as the best ever in British football.

Rush became Britain's most expensive teenager when Bob Paisley paid £300,000 to sign him from Chester in 1980. He made his debut in a 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town on December 13, 1980.

He was voted the most promising player of the year in 1982/83 and followed that by being voted the Football Writers' Association's and Professional Footballer's Association's player of the year and won Europe's Golden Boot for scoring 47 goals, more than anybody else on the continent.

During his two-part Anfield career, Rush scored 346 goals in 660 senior outings.

His haul of 44 FA Cup goals - 39 of them for Liverpool - is a 20th century record, while his five-goal total in FA Cup Finals - two in 1986 and 1989 and one in 1992, all on winning Liverpool sides - is an all-time best by an individual.

Rush and Geoff Hurst share the League Cup scoring record of 49 and Rush was the first player to win that competition five times.

He also collected five Championship medals, one European Cup and was awarded the MBE. With such an impressive record, he is expected to play a starring role for his team during the two-day Masters tournament. Spectators are welcome.

The Raimon Land Football Dinner is on Saturday from 6.30pm at the Amari Boulevard Hotel on Sukhumvit, Soi 5, and promises to be an entertaining night.

Tickets are Bt1,500 per person and include a full international buffet, soft drinks and beer. All are welcome.

Guest speakers are Ian Rush, Clive Walker and Paul Masefield. Bookings can be made via Khun Rungjit at the BCCT by calling:

0 2651 5350-3 or email: rungjit@bccthai.com.

Alan Parkhouse

 The Nation