Video: One Direction heart-throb draws in 5,000... to watch Doncaster Rovers reserves!

More than 5,000 fans, some of whom had travelled from the Continent and even the United States and Mexico for the reserve team fixture against local rivals Rotherham United – which would normally attract around 100 spectators – saw the 22-year-old take to the field as a substitute shortly after the hour mark at the Keepmoat Stadium.

The defender’s appearance was greeted by a deafening ovation from the bumper crowd. But despite his efforts, the fund-raising charity match remained scoreless.

Hundreds of Directioners – the collective name for the boy band’s fanatical followers – queued for hours ahead of the fixture, with some arriving during the morning to line up behind crowd control barriers.

Many were excitedly holding special souvenir programmes produced for the game, with some even sporting Doncaster Rovers shirts with “Tomlinson 28” – the star’s squad number – on the back.

He was due to make his debut earlier this season but suffered an injury in a charity fixture and has been in training with the Rovers squad for the last month in preparation for his big day.

The appearance by the lifelong Rovers fan, swelled the coffers of the Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, near Sheffield, where he is a patron. He started the day with a visit to one-year-old Harrison Ellmer, who made a remarkable recovery after being sent to Bluebell Wood for end-of-life treatment after contracting meningitis aged three weeks.

The star, whose band have had three consecutive number one albums in the United States and won two Brit Awards earlier this month, said: “Harrison’s story is remarkable, it’s been inspirational meeting him and his family. I can’t think how difficult it must have been for them. Bluebell Wood is a fantastic place that helps so many children and I’m honoured to be their patron and help raise money.”