LOCAL footballers Michael Corcoran and Richard Slattery will take off their boots in favour of boxing gloves this weekend.

Corcoran and Slattery, both 29, have enjoyed a friendly rivalry since their school days but on Saturday they will go toe-to-toe in a boxing ring.

The pair were born within three days of each other and played football together for St Joseph’s School and with the Oxford United youth team. Both became builders to earn a living, but the football rivalry continued as they played for teams in Swindon and now the pair have turned to boxing to settle their differences.

Slattery is looking forward to the contest and said: “We’ve even tried outdoing each other on the building site, so having tried shovels and trowels – as well as kicking lumps out of each other on the pitch – there was only one thing left!”

Naturally both fighters believe they are going to win the fight, which will raise funds for charity.

Corcoran said: “I’ve got the height advantage, but I do not know whether that will work in my favour.”

Slattery meanwhile talked himself up for the fight, saying: “My solid build should give me an edge on power, but it is all down to what happens on the day.”

The pair will come together in the ring on Saturday night at the Premier Club in Ermin Street, Stratton where they will be amongst the 20 bouts on the latest Swindon RAW card.

Amongst the other bouts on the Swindon RAW card is former Walcot welterweight Ray Mudar, who takes on Ahmed Waleed.

The Open Door Centre, which helps enable adults with both physical and mental learning difficulties and is based at St Barnabas Church Hall in Gorse Hill, is the main beneficiary of the evening.

The event gets under way at 6pm with a series of junior bouts.

Tickets are now on sale priced at £20 (under-13s free if accompanied by a paying adult).

They can be booked by calling the Premier Club on (01793) 831511 or 07590 495023.