GAZETTE & HERALD: Sky Soccer AM presenter Tim Lovejoy's team lifted the trophy on Sunday, but local charity Kandu Arts was the real winner as more than £4,000 was raised from the friendly football match.

A crowd of around 1,500 people packed into Chippenham Town's Hardenhuish Park to watch the Kandu Arts charity match and see television celebrities, ex-professional and local footballers strut their stuff.

Lovejoy's Badgers side boasted former England international John Beresford, ex-Middlesborough winger Keith O'Neill and former Newcastle United player Paul Dalglish.

Among the Kandu Arts/Gazette and Herald XI were former Steps singer Lee Latchford-Evans, Reef drummer Dominic Greensmith, Chippenham Town boss Steve White and former Bluebirds Adie Mings and Gareth Davies.

Charlton Athletic's Chris Bart-Williams managed the charity's team as he was nursing a back injury, while the Gazette's very own editor Gary Lawrence made a cameo appearance at the end of the first half.

Soccer AM co-presenter Helen Chamberlain watched the game from the away dugout and kept the crowds happy signing autographs and parading her footballing dogs.

The match itself finished 4-2 to the Soccer AM Badgers with O'Neil (2), Beresford and Dalglish getting on the score-sheet.

Kandu Arts' Ed Deedigan, who skippered the charity XI, said the event surpassed his expectations.

He said: "We didn't know what to expect so we just worked as hard as we could to get the event on. It turned out to be a wicked day and we can't pay enough thanks to everyone who helped make it happen.

"To have all the ex-pros and celebrities down was brilliant. John Beresford in particular was a great bloke. He showed some great touches on the pitch."

Mr Deedigan praised the supporters for creating such a good atmosphere and said he hoped the Kandu team would get its revenge on the Badgers in a rematch next year.

"It was a blinding day and beyond what we expected," he added. "The supporters' chanting was hilarious. We had so many people coming up to us afterwards to thank us, which makes it all worthwhile.

"To lose 4-2 was no disgrace. Our team had never even met before and we had to work out our positions in the changing room beforehand.

Ex-Newcastle fullback Beresford said: "It was a competitive game, which is always nice in a charity match and there was a good crowd in, which is what matters.