RIVAL supermarkets are squaring up to each other for a competition which has nothing to to with price wars...on the football field.

Staff at Tesco Express, in Southchurch Road, Southend, have challenged their counterparts at Asda’s Shoebury supermarket on May 6, with the winner already beyond doubt – Cancer Research UK.

The game will be played at Southend Manor’s ground, in Southchurch Park, and will be accompanied by other fun activities, including bouncy castles for the young spectators.

Tesco customer service assistant Lee Clark, 30, came up with the idea for the match and said both sides were really looking forward to the big day.

Norwich City fan, Lee, who will captain the Tesco team, said: “We have been training, with a Football Association-qualified coach putting us through our paces.

“It left some guys aching the next day, but everyone is really up for it and we are expecting to beat Asda.

“It’s a friendly rivalry we have with them, but all the same, it’ll be a local derby.

“We’d love to win, so we can say we have beaten them at something, after all their boasts about being the lowest-priced supermarket around.”

His Asda counterpart, Jay Down, said his team were buzzing and ready for the match – with a return fixture already in the pipeline.

He said: “It is great to see such big companies coming together for a charity event like this.

“We’re excited and expecting it to be a strong match. We’ve already started organising the reverse fixture, which will be raising money for Asda’s chosen charity, Tickled Pink.”

For more details about the match, which kicks off at 1pm, or the fun day, which runs from noon until 4pm, call 01702 277930.