Store staff in football friendly

The representatives from various departments at Morrisons raised at least 1,200 for the Sussex Snowdrop Trust charity for its work with terminally ill children and their families.

They employees brought in the money by taking on a representative side from League One club Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday afternoon.

The mixture of back room staff and youth team players from the Seagulls proved too strong for the Morrisons XI.

But the 7-1 defeat at Pagham FC's Nyetimber Lane ground in front of 300-400 spectators failed to dent the enthusiasm for an occasion full of goodwill.

Morrisons' joint team manager Dave Beech said: 'It was a really good experience playing against a team like Brighton. The result was better than we might have been expected to achieve.

'We were 4-0 down at half-time but we played better in the second half. Brighton were 7-0 up with five minutes to go when Dean Thompson scored our goal.'

The former meat replenishment worker, who recently left the Bedford Street supermarket, took the ball through the Seagulls' defence before he slotted it beyond the keeper.

Dave, the beer, wine and spirits manager of Morrisons, said the amount raised for the charity was less than he expected.

'But it's still at least 1,200 more than the trust had the day before the game. So we have to be pleased with that and it's all for a good cause,' he added.

Local band Rough Edges provided entertainment to the crowd. Former Premiership and Wales goalkeeper Paul Jones hosted a prize raffle.