FOOTBALLERS showed they had real stamina by playing a charity marathon match from sunrise to sunset.

ShrimperZone FC, a club made up of Southend United supporters, staged the match for Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital.

It was in memory of five-year-old Angelina Vidler, who was treated there for a Wilms tumour – a form of childhood cancer – before she died last July.

Four teams competed in matches which started while the dew was still on the ground, at 5.11am. When the final whistle sounded for the exhausted footballers, 15 hours and 24 mintues later, it was 8.35pm.

David Gracie, one of the organisers of the marathon event, at the PlayFootball centre at Chase High School, Westcliff, said: “It went really well.

“We set out thinking we’d raise about £2,000, but ended up raising more than £8,500. We’re chuffed to bits.”

About 60 Southend supporters, including a ladies’ team, played on the day, including 13 different Sunday league teams.

He said: “At the end, it was just a case of who could still stand. We had more than 200 people playing, overall. Unfortunately, overall, we lost 70-40 to the ‘Invitational Allstars’ as we called them.”

All money raised from sponsorship, a raffle, an auction and various competitions held through the day, is being donated to the Angelina Our Star Appeal.

Affiliated to the Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital it is a local appeal set up in memory of Angelina who died last July.