Charity matches prove a big hit
More than £3,000 was raised for Pompey in the Community following a successful evening of football at Fratton Park.
The staff and customers of Covers Timber and Builders Merchants from depots in Portsmouth, Gosport and Chichester played a series of matches against a Blues legends side.
They were invited to take part for a recommended donation of £60 and took on the likes of Darren Anderton and Alan Knight in three 30-minute games.
Each of the Covers players received their own Pompey away shirt, while around 250 family members, friends and spectators came through the turnstiles and gave generously on the evening.
All the money raised is being donated to Pompey in the Community – a charity aimed at improving education, healthy living and sporting achievements for young people in the city.
Steve Weston, sales director at Covers and charity player, said: “What a fantastic evening! We had a lot of fun both on and off the pitch.
“We reached our £2,000 target before the event even kicked off and people really dug deep on the evening and gave generously.
“I knew a lot of our customers are big Pompey fans, but we couldn’t have predicted what a hugely popular and successful evening it would turn out to be.”
Match tickets, signed shirts and a Covers drill were some of the items auctioned afterwards, whole man-of-the-match certificates and champagne were awarded to the best three players.
‘Touchline’ Tony Male, who manages the Pompey legends, said: “We had a great turn-out of ex-players on the night.
“We try to play charity events like this around 10 times a year and it’s always good to get back out on the Fratton pitch.
“There are some national – and international – stars in the group and the lads have certainly still got what it takes.”
The aggregate scoreline across the three matches saw Pompey secure a 9-5 victory over Covers.