A CHARITY football match raised nearly £1,700 for Fair Havens Hospice.

The second annual charity match saw a team of Tesco workers from Southend lose 5-1 to Essex Senior League champions, Great Wakering Rovers.

Last year the game was played in aid of Diabetes UK, but this year Fair Havens was chosen as it helped former Tesco employee Sue Trusler before she died in October.

The teams played for the Sue Trusler memorial cup, which will stay in Rovers’ trophy cabinet until next year’s rematch. Lee Clarke, Tesco Express customer assistant at the Southchurch Road store, organised the event, which raised money from a cake stall, balloon modelling and a raffle.

He said: “The help Sue got from Fair Havens was great.

Unless you go there, you don’t realise how good they are. We just hope this money can make even the smallest difference.

“I thank everyone at Great Wakering Rovers and everyone who supported the game, I think we had about 250 people there – the stand was packed.”