A CHARITY football match has raised thousands of pounds for young children whose brothers or sisters are battling terminal conditions.

Harwich Angels took on the Arsenal Celebrity Football Team at Harwich and Parkeston Football Club’s stadium, in Main Road, Dovercourt.

The event, which attracted more than 650 supporters, was held in aid of Sponsor A Sibling and generated roughly £13,000 in donations for the charity.

The entertaining match saw former Arsenal professionals, such as Jimmy Carter, Ian Selley, and Omer Riza, take on a team of budding local footballers put together just for the event.

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Despite going up against a group of ex-pros the underdogs secured a 6-2 victory over the celebrity team, which also featured actors and former television talent.

The fundraising game of football was organised by Andrea King, 50, of Harwich, and Harwich Angels’ management team.

Andrea said: “It was amazing and I am totally overwhelmed and emotional.

“We had about 650 spectators at the ground for the game and even the rain didn’t deter them.

“We are are truly humbled and thankful to everyone who supported the event, from the players and the sponsors to the spectators, and especially Harwich and Parkeston Football Club.”

Sponsor A Sibling was founded in 2016 by Laura Rolph-Wills, of Dovercourt, whose son Harry, 12, battles a rare form of Batten disease, for which there is tragically no known cure.

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Harry’s brother Josh, 15, has had to shoulder a huge amount of responsibility since the diagnosis, so Laura decided to set up the charity to give siblings of ill children the chance to enjoy a well-earned treat.

Andrea, whose sister Linda died aged 23, added: “We support this charity because my sister was terminally ill and I was that sibling many moons ago.”

To find out more visit facebook.com/sponsorasibling.