MIDDLESBROUGH Football Club was described as being the epitome of football's community spirit when a Premier League All Stars celebration dinner was held at the Riverside Stadium.

The club organised the fundraising event to celebrate the success of fans, celebrities and former stars in lifting the inaugural Premier League All Stars trophy, netting £100,000 for local charities.

The football club chose its favourite charities, Butterwick House Children's Hospice and Teesside Hospice, to split the cash equally.

Cheques for £50,000 each were presented to representatives of the two hospices, as members of the Boro All Stars team celebrated with 190 guests in the Riverside's Legends Lounge.

The All Stars team featured former Boro stars Craig Hignett, Jim Platt, Bernie Slaven and Mikkel Beck, fans Steven Aithwaite, Tony Rovardi and Julian McGuire, plus former world speedway champion Gary Havelock, actor Mark Stobbart and singer Alistair Griffin.

The night was held to celebrate Boro's All Stars success and to recognise the commitment to the local community of MFC, its players and staff.

The All Stars seven-a-side tournament was part of Creating Chances, the Premier League's flagship community initiative that featured stars of every top flight club making appearances in support of charities and good causes.

Reflecting on the initiative, Creating Chances project director Peta Bistany said: "Middlesbrough were a star club. They epitomise everything about what football clubs can do for the community. They deserve all the plaudits."

Cheques were presented to the hospices by Boro's chief operating officer Neil Bausor and former Boro goalkeeper Jim Platt, who captained the All Stars team.

Maureen Thompson, chief executive of Teesside Hospice, added: "The football club are just brilliant with us and we are just ecstatic to receive £50,000 in one go.

Recalling the visit of Jonathan Woodgate to the hospice to take part in a stopwatch challenge, Mrs Thompson added: "I know Jonathan has received some bad press, but we think he is wonderful.

"He was just a star with everyone he met during his visit. He served cups of tea, washed hair and chatted to people. You just had to be there to see what he did for us. It was just incredible. You can't bottle experiences like he gave some of the people there that day."

Graham Leggat-Chidgey, chief executive of Butterwick Hospice, said: "This is a fantastic amount of money to receive. £50,000 makes a real difference to us, so a big thank you to Middlesbrough Football Club and to the All Stars players.

"We very much appreciate the support we have received from the football club and its staff for many years."

As part of Creating Chances, the two hospices had been among 25 good causes chosen by Boro to receive £2,000 each from the Premier League.

The celebration dinner raised a further £5,600 for the hospices, thanks in part to a charity auction. The chance to be a Boro mascot went for £900, while an opportunity to have lunch with Gareth Southgate at Rockliffe Park raised £700.

Our picture shows the Boro All Stars presenting, together with Neil Bausor of Middlesbrough FC and Peta Bistany of the Premier League, presenting cheques for £50,000 to Teesside Hospice and Butterwick House Children's Hospice.