A television challenge could prove a winner for the Evening Gazette's Sparkle Appeal.

Channel 4 breakfast television programme Rise threw down the gauntlet to two teams in Colchester to compete in one of their daily charity confrontations.

U's mascot Eddie the Eagle gets to grips with the RISE challenge at Rollerworld, Colchester

And today, a team of players from Colchester United Football Club took on a team from the Army, based in the town, to try to win a number of prizes donated by Debenhams.

Matt Hudson, spokesman for Colchester United, said when the club was approached by Channel 4, they immediately thought of doing it for the Sparkle Appeal.

"These prizes are toys and goodies and things and we thought Sparkle would be ideal," he said.

The two teams follow in the footsteps of other groups across the country invited to take part in various challenges but neither teams knew what to expect before they got there.

Filming for the live show today took place at Rollerworld in Eastgates, Colchester

Published Thursday, December 12, 2002

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