THE phone rang, Kevin Davies picked up and recognised the booming voice on the other end of the line.

“Davo son, I’m in Dubai but grab your boots, I need you at Bolton.”

Suffice it to say, the former Bolton Wanderers captain needed little convincing.

Big Sam Allardyce had been asked to manage a team of legends in Gethin Jones’s fundraiser, including treatment for his own mother who was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease earlier this year. And the Bolton family had mobilised in an instant.

“I hadn’t spoken to Sam in a while, but you can’t really say ‘no’ to him, can you?” laughed Davies, who hung up his own boots six years ago, and has been living in Dorset for the last three.

While John McGinlay rang around the famous names of Burnden Park – including Alan Thompson, David Lee, Keith Branagan, Gudni Bergsson and Richard Sneekes – Davies was tasked with getting some of the next generation on board.

And though some famous names have understandably had to put work commitments first – Kevin Nolan, Matt Taylor and Paul Robinson among them – Davies was delighted with the speed that his squad sheet filled up.

Famous names like Jay Jay Okocha, Ivan Campo, Jussi Jaaskelainen are currently due to play on Sunday (kick off 1pm) in what could be a wonderful homecoming.

“We were lucky to play in an amazing era at Bolton Wanderers and create some wonderful memories,” he told The Bolton News. “And, yes, things have moved on. It is a different club now, but it doesn’t leave you. It means a lot. When you are asked to come in and help, it is a no brainer.

“I sent messages to lads who are living abroad, miles away, like Henrik Pedersen, and they were like ‘when do you need me?’ “The lads are excited to come back, have a few beers after the game, swap a few stories – and most importantly make sure we raise money for a really good cause.

“I have spoken a little bit to Gethin and can’t imagine how difficult a time it must be for him and his family, so you have to show some support.

“I hope the fans will too. It would be great to spend another afternoon together at the Reebok… and sorry, I can’t stop calling it that. Get the boots on and have a good game.”

For some players, including Davies, who are scheduled to appear on Sunday afternoon it is a chance to bid a proper farewell to a club which meant a lot to them.

After making more than 400 appearances for Bolton, the former England striker never quite got the send-off his service deserved, with a tearful walk around the pitch after the club had missed out on the play-offs with a 2-2 draw against Blackpool in 2013.

The same can be said for Pedersen, Stelios, Ricardo Gardner, Ivan Campo, even Jussi Jaaskelainen, who amassed an incredible 527 games for Bolton.

While it is true to say the players had represented the club during the most lucrative era in its history, the success they enjoyed and bonds they forged with a generation of supporters were very real.

“You look back on it now and maybe things were not handled right,” he said. “It’s well-documented that a few players didn’t really feel they got a decent send off.

“And it would be nice to think that on Sunday we can enjoy the day, sit down with people at the club, have a chat, make friends. Going forward, I have often said that there is a lot of goodwill out there from former players in good positions around Europe, globally in fact, and so much experience that the club could use to their advantage.

“But all that is in the background. The main thing for us on Sunday is to come back and help raise money for a very good cause – and I think we’ve got a few names on the team-sheet who will be worth watching.”

Davies has looked to get his legs going again in training sessions with Poole Town, where his son Lucas – now 18, and standing 6ft 3ins – currently plays in the Southern League Premier South.

And the ‘lads’ may well be asked to give the ‘dads’ some energy off the bench at some stage of the afternoon – with Okocha and Stelios both set to bring their football-playing sons to the squad.

With Sam Allardyce back in the dugout, ably assisted by Paddy McGuinness, who had to pass on a chance to play because he is waiting on a knee operation, the legends are shaping up well to take on the current Bolton XI and their manager Ian Evatt.

“I’ll probably have to produce at least one of my slide challenges,” Davies joked. “But I might have to tone it down a bit. We don’t need any injuries.

“We have had loads of offers from old staff to come back and lend a hand, too, whether it is sorting out equipment or giving a few massages – and some of the older lads might need one after running around that pitch.

“It’s a family. You club together and help out. I know me, Emma and the kids are looking forward to coming back up there for a few days and seeing a few old friends.

“And it would be great to see people turn out and support Gethin’s cause, help to raise as much money as we can.”

Tickets for the game, costing £10 for adults and £5 for concessions can be bought by CLICKING HERE.