A HOST of Colchester United favourites reunited to raise thousands of pounds at a charity football match.

Ex-U’s skipper Karl Duguid led a U’s legends team packed with the club’s cherished former players including Kem Izzet, Greg Halford and Joe Dunne in a special Hope for Grace Cup fundraiser game at Stanway Rovers FC, on Saturday.

The likes of Jamie Cureton, John White, Adam Bailey-Dennis and Carl Pentney also featured in the U’s side, managed by loyal Colchester fan, Matt Calmus.

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They took on a Hope for Grace FC side at the event staged in aid of six-year-old Grace Beverton, who has a rare genetic disorder, with around £6,000 raised on the day.

The U’s legends side ran out 4-2 winners, thanks to goals from Izzet, Sean Marks, Michael Brothers and Cliff Akurang.

U’s promotion winner Halford said: “It was nice to come over and the main reason we were here is the Hope for Grace cause.

Gazette:

“Hopefully we’ve raised some money and it goes to Grace.

“I’m enjoying playing in the charity games and being involved in autism, so it was good.”

Former Colchester striker Cureton added: “Doogs has done it for the last three or four years and I’ve always been here.

“It’s nice because you get to see the boys; some of us know each other and communicate a little bit but some live in different areas so it’s nice to get together, have a bit of banter on the pitch and see how’s actually looked after themselves and who hasn’t!

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“It’s good fun and it’s for a great cause.”

Grace is one of just 80 people in the world who have what is referred to by scientists as RHOBTB2, which caused her life-threatening seizures when she was only five months old.

The Hope for Grace charity cup was sponsored by LJ Rose Accounting, Haste Property Finance and Peverel Green Care Homes.