Shane Lynch, Keith Duffy Brian McFadden have bought Chorley FC and are hoping to encourage their celebrity pals to come to the games.
The former Boyzone stars have teamed up with Westlife singer Brian – with whom Brian also fronts the Boyzlife supergroup – to buy the semi-professional football club based in Lancashire .
Even though they are not really fans of having ‘celebrity friends’, they joked that they are hoping to drum up support from the likes of fellow 1990s pop star Dane Bowers and EastEnders legend Dean Gaffney.
Keith told The Sun: ‘Our friends are the people we worked with growing up. We’re not into the celebrity friends thing.
‘We’ll have Dean Gaffney and Dane Bowers, all the big A-listers.
The former Boyzone stars have teamed up with Westlife singer Brian – with whom Brian also fronts the Boyzlife supergroup – to buy the semi-professional football club based in Lancashire
Keith recalled that he did not come from a background that was anywhere near entertainment and had a number of menial jobs before he got the ‘life-changing’ with Boyzone.
But the Key To My Life singer is hopeful that their collective experience of success will aid them in bringing success to the small town team.
He said: ‘If we have any ability to bring what we’ve learned through our success to a and to lend our support and weight to try to bring some media attention and put that fire in the players of the team, to make them feel like they’re working to achieve something, it’s very exciting.’
The Irish band officially split in 2000, but have frequently got back together for landmark tours.
The Mirror revealed earlier this year the group have come together to buy shares in Chorley FC, where they also plan to perform a series of concerts, although it is now just two of them and the Westlife star.
A source told the publication that the band will be attending Chorley FC’s home game against Solihull on Saturday to officially seal the deal.
The insider added: ‘It’s a really exciting move for Chorley FC. It is a game-changer that has the potential to bring the town into the limelight like never before, generating a buzz and publicity that will shine a bright light on Chorley.
Boyzone initially comprised of Ronan Keating, Mikey Graham, Stephen Gately – who died in 2009 – Shane Lynch and Keith Duffy
Here come the boys! Westlife soared to fame in 1998 when they were formed in Dublin, with the original line-up also featuring Brian McFadden, who later left in 2004 (pictured as Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Nicky Byrne and Shane Filan in 2010)
The group were in talks to buy shares in Lancashire’s Chorley FC, where they also plan to perform a series of concerts (Shane Lynch pictured)
But now Keith and Brian – who have since formed the supergroup Boyzlife – have bought the club along with Shane
Westlife’s Brian was also interested in the opportunity at the time and they became the latest celebrities to buy stakes in a football club, following on from Ryan Reynolds and Stormzy.
The group achieved international fame as well as six UK No.1s – including Words, No Matter What, All That Matters To Me and You Needed Me.
The band officially split in 2000, but have frequently got back together for landmark tours – including the Back Again…No Matter What tour in 2009 – which was the last time they’d perform as a five-piece.
The band also reunited in 2013 to celebrate their 20th anniversary with a tour and new releases.
