The Buckhurst Hill Family kicked off the football club’s partnership with the JE3 Foundation with the inaugural Buckhurst Hill 11 v JE3 11 at Roding Lane.
The JE3 squad included the likes of Teddy Sheringham, Luke Young, Jimmy Walker, Charlie Daniels, and JE3 trustees Jobi McAnuff and Josh Wright.
Buckhurst Hill Football Club chairman Simon Cornwell said: “What a kick off we had, glorious weather, ex-pros and celebrities gracing the Roding Lane turf and our first team and a few surprises working their way onto the bench and getting some minutes on the pitch.
“I would like to thank all the JE3 players for their generosity of giving up their free time and signing endless autographs throughout the day and sharing their valuable time with all the supporters after the game.”
He added: “It was also amazing to see all the boys and girls on the pitch afterwards kicking a ball around and having a wonderful time.”
Before kick off, the club held its first ever Supporter’s Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year presentation, sponsored by Myrak LTD.
The Player of the Year award went to Henry Day and the Young Player of the Year award to Alfie Harris.
Mr Cornwell said: “A huge thank you to Jim Sullivan for all his support.”
The club was also presented with a defibrillator by Charlie Edinburgh for its mini soccer academy.
Mr Cornwell said: “The charity fixture was played in great spirits and was extremely competitive and after 90 minutes the score was 2-2 with Buckhurst Hill winning 5-3 on penalties.
“Buckhurst Hill gave debuts to first team coach JP and Tony Tyler who you have all grown to love as our match day support every Saturday who both came on as late substitutes (posing a selection poser for first team boss Mark Williams next season!) and scored in the penalty shoot-outs which saw Buckhurst Hill victorious.”
Mr Cornwell said: “The total raised on the day for the Foundation was £1,240.61 which is incredible, so from all of us at the club ‘thank you’.”
The Automated External Defibrillator will now be a permanent fixture at the club and will be utilised by the club’s mini soccer project.
The donation was made possible thanks to the fantastic fundraising efforts of ‘SPURSFANS2022’ which includes Bharat Patel, Carole Hodge, Colin Abbott, David Oliver, Danny Tunman and Stephanie Temple.