Not a fan of these testimonials tbh - devalues the "10 years at one club" exceptional reward. I'll support Ellis' event/merchandise though. A really exceptional player and role model in the modern game.

So who do you reckon will be the team we face for it then? Most likely one of his former clubs. Hopefully Wests

in the modern era, are testimonials still appropriate?, players (and this isn't aimed specifically at Ellis) are not amateurs who work on the docks, training in their own time and get match pay anymore, players earn hundreds of thousands of pounds in a career nowadays. "Services to RL" what "services" would these be then? does Jenny from Sainsbury's get a ten year testimonial for "services to the cold meats and pies industry", no, she gets paid and slight increments for having experience.

No problem for me - 15 years in the game is an impressive stat.

As to whether a testimonial is appropriate, I think, just about, yes. It may be a job and they do get rewarded quite handsomely these days but it pales into insignificance compared to football, so I don't begrudge a little extra when they put their bodies on the line for our entertainment. I'm sure Gaz gets paid a decent amount but someone like Rooney earns his annual salary in a couple of weeks (which says more about the mess football is in tbh).

Footballers still have them with their millions rather than thousands of pounds. Although think the proceeds go to charity rather than the player themselves

I think it depends, some players have donated entire proceeds in the past.

As I say, this isn't an observation against the individual, it's the whole ethos of the events. When dockers were playing for 2d and beers from the faithful you could understand it, players now are on £50k+ a season, for a good few years.

Gary Kelly at Leeds United had a testimonial match and all the proceeds went to charity. Niall Quinn did similar but the majority were (certainly in the past) for the player's benefit only

it's not a topic I can envisage unified opinion on anytime (sooner, or later), personal choice to support or not. Personally, I think they get paid more than enough for what the actually do, if Nurses were paid what RL players get (let alone footballers) we'd be better off.

originaly,testimonials were brought in many years ago,when men who played football,aswell as having to work for a living during the week,were injured in a game,and had to take time off from their usual employment and could`nt support their families,were given a testimonial to help them get past this problem.it did`nt take into account how long you had been with a club,it was a financial reward,to help you,over the time you were not able to work.

Issue him a Carriage Clock instead, he'll be made up with that.

Went to Australia for one season