FORMER professional footballers, TOWIE stars, and celebrities joined BabyBallers children’s sports academy for an annual fundraising.

Aveley Football Club’s Parkside Stadium played host as coaches and parents from the academy joined forces with celebrities for the annual Little Havens Hospice fundraiser.

It was the second time that the BabyBallers team had taken on the Little Havens XI which this year included ex West Ham player Jack Collison, former professional footballer Leroy Lita, TOWIE stars Dan Osborn, Harry Lee and Tom McDonnell plus television presenter Mark Wright.

The mascot for the match was Bobbie Murray, 12, who is cared for by Little Havens and was delighted to be given a pair of signed boots by Mark Wright.

The final score was an 8-6 win for the Little Havens celebrity team, leaving Richard Elms – the owner of BabyBallers and the organiser of the match - determined to lead his team to victory when they meet again at next year’s event.

The final total raised £3,014.41.

He said: “Thank you to everyone who took part in the match and came along to show their support. At the BabyBallers academy, we provide football and child development sporting activities for children from 16 months to 5 years old, so Little Havens is a charity that our staff, coaches and families are very happy to support.

“I took some toys to Little Havens in November 2017 where I was lucky to see first-hand the wonderful care that this charity provides so we are all thrilled to have raised so much money for such a brilliant and worthwhile cause.”

Carmel Hudson, community fundraising manager for Little Havens, had the honour of presenting the medals to the players. She said, “We are very grateful to Richard at BabyBallers and his colleagues for organising the match, both teams for playing so well and to the fantastic spectators for creating such a great atmosphere.

“Little Havens Hospice must raise over £46,000 each week to be there for every baby, child and teenager who needs us, so thank you for raising so much and helping us to continue ‘Making every day count’.”