A FOOTBALL match which raised money for a city hospice was a 'huge success.'

The match, held at Archdales Sports and Social Club, featured a host of past and present players and managers, and helped to raise more than £600 for St Richard’s Hospice.

In the match, Dales Legends took on New Dales FC, finishing in a penalty shoot-out win for New Dales after a 1-1 draw.

Ashley Banner, one of the organisers of the event, held on Saturday, said: “I thought the day was a huge success.

“Not only the money raised for a great charity but to see some of the old boys faces at being back out on the football pitch.

“You forget so quickly the atmosphere and feeling of being surrounded by your friends in a changing room before a football match once you stop playing football.

“As soon as you enter the changing room the banter between players begins and that’s something you can’t replicate.

“The match wasn’t about who won and lost it was about raising money for St. Richards Hospice and bring the current and former players of Archdales back together again.

“It wouldn’t have been possible for yesterday to happen if it wasn’t for the support and help organising the event from my wife Vicki, Martin Stephens and Shelly, Kevin Brocklehurst and Julie, Dan and Vicki Parsons, Andy and Laura Widdowsen and Jenna Gormley.

“They all played a massive part in making yesterday a success.”

Going forward, the club say they have a few ideas as a football club on how they would like to support the community.

They plan to meet soon to see what they can offer next.

Around £600 was raised from the collections and ticket prices but the club is still waiting for the official total, with sealed donation tubs being sent to St Richard’s for counting before the final total is revealed.

All players paid a fee to play and in addition there was a BBQ, bouncy castle and a raffle to raise more funds.

The raffle has had prizes donated to it by a long list of local companies including Costa Coffee, The Slug & Lettuce, Worcester Wolves, Worcester City FC and Hickory’s Steakhouse.

For more information about St Richard’s Hospice, go to strichards.org.uk/