TWO friends who share a strong emotional tie to Great Ormond Street are staging a celebrity football match to raise money for the children's hospital.

Darren Vickery, 28, and Harry Bennett, 56, both from Canvey, met seven years ago through work and discovered they had a mutual link with the London hospital.

Mr Vickery's wife, Emma, 28, had a tumour of the spine when she was younger and was a regular visitor to Great Ormond Street Hospital between the ages of ten and 16.

And Harry's twin boys, Nicholas and James, now 21, suffered brain haemorrhages at birth and are spastic quadriplegics.

Nicholas and James spent the first three months of their lives in Great Ormond Street and were regular patients until the age of 18.

Now the two men hope to give something back to the hospital and have organised a charity football match, with 17 men playing against ex-Arsenal footballers and celebrities at the Concord Rangers Football Club, Canvey, on July 22.

Mr Bennett said: "Great Ormond Street is a very special place with extraordinary staff. With-out question, the thing it gives parents is confidence. When our twins were born it was touch-and-go whether they would survive, but the whole experience was made easier by the staff. The people who work at Great Ormond Street are exceptional."

Mr Vickery approached Arsenal's charitable trust and suggested arranging the football match.

Although the final line-up has yet to be confirmed, previous charity matches have included stars such as Perry Groves, Ian Allinson and Chris White.

Other hoped-for players are Tommy Walsh from Ground Force, Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet, rugby league star Martin Offiah, Ralf Little of the Royle Family, and actor Phil Daniels.

The gates will open at 2pm for a 3pm kickoff. Tickets cost £5 for adults, £2 for under-16s and under-5s are free.

To buy a ticket in advance, call Darren on 07704 354205.