Monday 7th of December 2009
Rio's rival on and off the pitch
Earlier this year, we reported that Rio Ferdinand had been spotted at Presthaven Sands Holiday Park in Prestatyn.
Although it wasn't known if he found time to check out the onsite bingo club, the Manchester United star did race round the go-karting track before retiring to his fiancee's caravan with their two young sons.
Not to be undone, another Manchester footballer has just had a brush with bingo.
Nedum Onuoha, a Nigerian defender who plies his trade at Manchester City, was the celebrity bingo caller at a recent event inside the City of Manchester Stadium.
The 23-year-old was given the honour of calling out the numbers at a special tea dance organised by the Manchester club's registered charity City in the Community.
Approximately 150 people attended the event, where they were able to enjoy tasty refreshments, elegant dancing and exciting bingo games.
It was all part of an initiative to get the elderly out and about, and provide them with a friendly environment in which they can meet other people with similar interests.
The celebrity bingo caller speaks
Nedum said: "I was delighted to be able to help out. It's great that the club supports older people in our community and that they get the chance to come to the City of Manchester Stadium."
Plenty of famous figures have been trying their hand at bingo calling in recent months.
In September 2009, Swedish presenter Ulrika Jonsson began hosting a new gameshow on primetime digital TV, which combines bingo games, celebrity interviews and live audience interaction.
Meanwhile, First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond boomed out the numbers in his own inimitable voice in October.
The Scottish National Party leader took on the duties of bingo caller for an evening to promote the candidacy of former BBC journalist David Kerr in the Glasgow North East by-election.
