Former North East footballers are lacing up ready for a charity boxing match in London in October.

Former Sunderland AFC coach Leroy Lita and former Sunderland midfielder Martin Woods are joining 12 other ex and professional athletes taking part in a charity boxing match on Thursday, October 22 at the Grosvenor House Hotel, in London.

The event is run by Pro Project Promotions, a platform founded by former Arsenal goalkeeper Graham Stack to unite ex-professional athletes in a bid to raise funds and awareness for important causes through events and charity initiatives.

Since its debut event sold out Mayfair's Grosvenor House ballroom back in October 2025, Pro Project Promotions has raised more than £201,500 for charity causes.

Former North East footballers are heading to the ring in October as they take part in a charity boxing match in London.

placeholder image — Former North East footballers are heading to the ring in October as they take part in a charity boxing match in London.

Graham said: “This is our biggest and most emotional line-up yet. Every one of these lads has a story worth telling.

"Some have played at the very top of the game, others have had to rebuild their whole lives, and all of them are stepping back into a ring for people who need it more than they do.”

Guests can expect the full Pro Project Promotions experience in October, featuring a red carpet arrival, champagne reception, seven three-round contests between former professional footballers and an after-fight party.

Graham said: “We've raised over £201,500 for charity in our first two events and we want the Grosvenor on 22 October to be our biggest night yet.

Former Sunderland AFC coach Leroy Lita is taking part in a charity boxing match on Thursday, October 22 at the Grosvenor House Hotel, in London. Photo credit Getty Images.

"So get your tickets early because this one will not stay available for long.”

Martin is a Scottish midfielder who played for Sunderland before heading off to a number of other clubs including Rotherham and Doncaster.

Leroy was raised through the Chelsea academy and enjoyed a 23-year career before turning to coaching.

Documentaries chronicling Pro Project Promotions previous charity events – A Night to Remember I and II – are also set to land on Amazon Prime soon, taking audiences behind the scenes and into the homes, gyms and personal battles of the footballers who have stepped into the ring so far.

Leroy and Martin are being joined by Nile Ranger, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Gary Madine, Sebastien Bassong, Mathew Briggs, Armand Traore, Harlee Dean, Simon Cox, Lee Cook, Anthony Gardner, David Norris and Jamie Sendles-White.

Tickets for the event can be bought online now at https://www.proprojectpromotions.com/.