It was a perfect day for football at the Woodside Ground, Worthing on Sunday 10 May when former professionals, old team mates and managers from Brighton & Hove Albion, Worthing, Southwick, Shoreham, Fulham, Millwall, Portsmouth and other local sides played a charity match for Guild Care.
The Worthing XI, captained by Mark Burt of Shoreham FC, went into the lead after 17 minutes with a goal by Mark Knee, former player and manager of Worthing FC. It was 1-0 at half time and despite extra effort from the former Albion players they were unable to pull an equaliser back.
The second half was well fought by both teams but Worthing striker John Lock volleyed another into the back of the net and the Guild Care Celebrities were unable to match their prowess.
Paul Rogers, Captain of Guild Care’s Celebrity XI (former Captain at Brighton & Hove Albion and currently their Commercial Manager said “It was great fun. Really nice to see lots of faces on both teams we hadn’t seen for some time. There weren’t many goals but there was plenty of decent football. It would be quite nice to make it an annual event at the end of every season.’
Mayor of Worthing Councillor Christine Brown presented the Worthing XI’s Captain and Manager, Mark Burt and Sammy Donnelly with a trophy donated by Pinnacle.
Mark Burt, player/manager at Shoreham FC, captain of the winning Worthing XI said “It was a great day. Everyone enjoyed it, the weather was perfect and it was good to see the old fellows we played with 10 years ago.”
Guest player for the afternoon was Adam Day whose aunt bid £50 in an online auction for him to play in the team. Adam said ‘The boys made me feel really welcome. They are a great bunch of lads and I’ll never forget playing in the match.’ Adam plays for Riverside in the Sussex Sunday League.
The match was organised to raise money for a new minibus for the charity.