James Milner and Stiliyan Petrov back Christmas charity record

Chistmas Way being released to support Help for Heroes, Bloodwise – the UK’s largest blood cancer charity – and the NSPCC

James Milner (GETTY IMAGES)

The days when footballers appeared on Top of the Pops may be a distant memory but Liverpool and England midfielder James Milner is hoping that one record will be a hit this Christmas.

The man who inspired the parody Twitter account ‘Boring James Milner’ was never going to morph into Noddy Holder but he has joined forces with his former Aston Villa team-mate Stiliyan Petrov to support a newly released Christmas charity record.

‘Christmas Way’, which is available to buy on iTunes from today (18 December), has been recorded with the support of the James Milner Foundation and Stiliyan Petrov Foundation to raise money for Help for Heroes, Bloodwise – the UK’s largest blood cancer charity – and the NSPCC.

Former Villa captain Petrov, who had to retire from football after suffering acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, appears in the video alongside Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi – perhaps the least likely pairing since David Bowie and Bing Crosby sang ‘Little Drummer Boy’ together.

The song was the brainchild of Ed Harris, a football agent and friend of Petrov and Milner, and has the backing of Milner’s old Manchester City team-mates Vincent Kompany and Joe Hart, who have both recorded video messages describing their Christmas Day. Kompany said: “My Christmas way will be opening presents in the morning with my kids, wearing my tracksuit because I’ve got training the same day.”

Harris said: "We have the unique support of people as diverse as England goalkeeper Joe Hart and the creator of heavy metal and founding member of Black Sabbath, Tony Iommi. No one in the history of music can boast that combination!”

‘Christmas Way’ was written by songwriter and producer Glenn James McDonald and features contributions from The Neales, finalists in Britain’s Got Talent; Jonny Marenghi, who sang with Gary Barlow on the ITV show Journey to Afghanistan; and the recently crowned winner of BBC Songs of Praise Gospel Choir of the Year.