In the middle of monsoon season, even the rain stopped for this the second annual charity football match between the Cops and Robbers, all in aid of Children in Need.

Thanks go to David Douglas-Law and Alex Alderman for running the lines and late replacement referee, the infamous Tony Brown.

Making their debuts this year were Ian Sanderson (capt.), who at the ripe old age of 62 played the full match tremendously; Timothy Lemon, whose birthday it was that day and he ran his little legs off; and Martin Protheroe, who stepped in to replace his little brother Joe with a bad toe.

Before kick-off a certain Mr. Steven Hartland produced a bottle of whisky which he passed around the Robbers. No one seemed to know or care where he suddenly got this bottle, but it didn't do him any good, for he was injured just before half-time. The last anyone saw of him, he was sitting on the grass with bottle in hand and a stupid grin on his face.

As charity seemed to be the topic of the day, it was only fair that the Robbers should give the Cops a helping hand in the game with an own goal, courteously of their captain.

Then they just got greedy and scored another goal, which only sparked the Robbers into life. Paul Evans netted their first goal and Simon Arthur hit a second to level it by half-time.

After the mandatory oranges, cigarettes and whisky, but not necessarily in that order, the Robbers were ready for whatever the second half had to throw at them. Or so they thought.

Before the Robbers knew what hit them, they were trailing to two quick goals. It seemed that the whisky was not helping at all - except to numb the pain of a possible mauling!

By the time the Cops had netted another goal, somebody had finally learnt to count and found that the Cops had been playing with 12 men on the pitch. On discovering this, the big-hearted Tony Brown cancelled out their last goal - small consolation, considering they had been playing the whole of the second half with an extra man!

Paul Evans then hit a third goal for the Robbers to pull back the deficit, but by now they had lost all hope of a miracle. Especially with a dodgy ref.

Needless to say, with the extra man, the final nail in the coffin soon came and the Cops wrapped up the game 6-3.

Rumour has it that Mr. Brown has had all his parking tickets erased and won't be bothered by the police for at least 12 months!

However, charity was the real winner at the end of the day and good clean fun was had by all. With over £1,000 raised last year, it is hoped that a similar figure will be achieved this year.

Special thanks go to all those involved who gave their time and energy, and without them the game could not have gone ahead: Sharon Lewis, Janet, Mel, Angela, Matthew, Vil, Dean Hurlow, Remy, Mrs. Cardey, The Police, and the players of both teams.

Also, a big thank you to those who gave to Children in Need, Somerfield, The Sun, Heatherton, The Kit Bag, Princess Gate, The Buccaneer, The Lamb, The Tenby House, The Hope and Anchor, The Three Mariners, and all those who sponsored the event. Thank you.