Brighton and Hove Albion - Features

The Robert Eaton Memorial Fund Game 2010

Seagulls fans will get the chance to see one of Brighton's greatest ever players in action at a charity match later this month. Peter Ward, who scored 81 goals in 194 matches during his two spells with the club, is flying more than 3,000 miles from his home in America to play at the Robert Eaton Memorial Fund (REMF) match on April 30.

The charity was formed in the aftermath of the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in which life-long Albion fan Robert Eaton tragically died. Since then it has raised more than £70,000 in his name, which money going to help fund football for underprivileged youngsters both here in England and overseas. The charity has provided 230 shirts and 150 balls for Los Peladitos FC - a club for children in Robert's adopted home of Queens, New York and given a £7,000 grant to the Seagulls Specials club which works with disabled youngsters.

It has also sent £3,000 to the Coaching For Hope charity which uses football to support young children in Mali who have been orphaned by Aids and paid for a stack of equipment for projects in Cambodia and South Africa. Another eight local youth teams here in Sussex have also benefited, and last year the REMF was named The Argus Charity of the Year.

Each year the charity holds its showcase event, a match between supporters of Brighton and their arch rivals Crystal Palace. Former Seagulls' striker Ricky Marlowe journeys down from Scotland each year to turn out and last year, Peter Ward made his first appearance in the blue and white for more than 20 years during a hard fought 4-4 draw.
Other famous faces to have played include former Brighton, Crystal Palace and England manager Peter Taylor and one time Brighton captain Paul Rogers. Former Palace favourite Simon Rodger is set to appear for the away side this season.

This year's match gets underway at the Lewes FC's Dripping Pan ground at 7.45pm on Friday, April 30 and entry is £5, with under 16s going free if with an adult. As well as the match there will be a charity auction and raffle, with prizes including a personal hard hat tour of the club's new Falmer ground, signed match-worn shirts and a one-off limited edition commemorative Subbuteo kit.

We Are Brighton will have four members of the website team involved on the night, with co-founder Scott McCarthy joining Crocs on Tour regulars Neil Kane and Ali Jenkins in the squad, while another Croc in Andy Rumble manages the team. Please offer whatever support you can for this years match, and here are the main ways in which you can get involved: