Round Table organises soccer event

But with 17 teams from Bexhill, Hastings and Eastbourne competing on the sports field at St Richard's Catholic College, Bexhill Round Table was so pleased with the response that it hopes to make the five-a-side tournament an annual event.

The last-minute loss of Saturday's action meant that all matches had to be played on Sunday in time for Town Mayor Cllr Paul Lendon's scheduled 5pm visit for the medals presentation.

Despite the difficulties, Table fund-raising chairman Tabler Darren Bush was delighted with the response by local teams and the sponsorship given by local companies.

As the first players began to register, he told the Observer: "We have 17 teams. They are all over-17s with both boys' and girls' teams.

"We were not too sure what response we would get. We were just testing the water this year. But 17 teams is not bad.

"We are hoping to make it an annual event."

Sunday's scene was dominated by Excalibur, a giant 45 square metre lorry-mounted screen, supplied by E-Xit Creative Media Ltd.

Darren Bush explained: "We have three pitches in action. One pitch will be constantly filmed and the game shown on the big screen.

"The screen will also show the names of our sponsors.

"Other charities such as the British Heart Foundation and St Michael's Hospice have stalls.

"We have a bouncy castle and other family attractions plus a penalty shoot-out.

"Half of today's profits will go to St Richard's Catholic College. The other half will go to Bexhill Round Table's community charities.

"At the moment, we are raising funds to build a primary school in Goa, India.

"The aim is that we raise 3,500, the local Round Table Club in Goa raises 3,500 and the Indian government sponsors the rest.

"Hopefully, this will become an annual event. This year was just to see how it goes.

"I would like to say a big thank you to everyone in Round Table for their help and to all our sponsors."