It is that time of year when Brighton & Hove Albion football fans get together to remember a fan who died in the Twin Towers terrorist attack in New York in 2001.

 

After the events of that fateful day, when Brighton supporters found out the one of their numbers, Robert Eaton, had died, a few got together to raise some money in his memory, the Robert Eaton Memorial Fund (REMF) was created. It was decided that the proceeds of the fundraising should go to help children at a football (soccer) academy in New York City, where Robert had lived.

 

 

A suggestion from a Crystal Palace fan (Brightons arch rivals) was that a charity football match should be played between the two sets of fans, and so the first Robert Eaton Memorial Fund football match took place in Southwick, Sussex, in November 2001.

   

The match has taken place every year since, and many thousands of pounds have been raised. Money was initially donated to the Academia de Futbol Los Peladitos in New York to pay for kit and equipment.

 

 

Since then money raised by REMF has been distributed to childrens football projects in Sussex, (Home of Brighton & Hove Albion FC), Croydon, South London (Home of Crystal Palace FC) and further afield to charities in Africa helping children through the medium of football.

 

So, on Friday 8th May 2009, the supporters of Brighton and Crystal Palace meet at Lewe FCs “Dripping Pan” ground in Sussex for this years match.

 

 

Legendary Brighton Player, Peter Ward will be playing for the Brighton fans, he is flying in from the USA especially for the match, in addition, another ex Brighton player, Ricky Marlowe will travel from his home in Scotland and play in the match for the 8th year running. Crystal Palace legend, Peter Taylor is rumoured to be donning his kit for the Crystal Palace team.

 

All in all it is expected the match will raise over £5000 this year, all to help youngsters play football, in Sussex, Croydon and much further afield.

 

This year www.oldfootballshirts.com is delighted to have been able to help the Brighton supporters team out, by providing their warm up kit and match shirt printing.

 

 

 

You can help too if you like, just click on any of the links below and make a donation, however small, to the players of the Brighton supporters’ team:

 

http://www.justgiving.com/alijenkinsremf

http://www.justgiving.com/remf2009

http://www.justgiving.com/mattmartindale

http://www.justgiving.com/maxhealey

http://www.justgiving.com/nickclayton

http://www.justgiving.com/richardcolemanremf

http://www.justgiving.com/richardmorrisremf

http://www.justgiving.com/sammellor

http://www.justgiving.com/simonbarrett

http://www.justgiving.com/simonhuffer

http://www.justgiving.com/tobyphillips

http://www.justgiving.com/tomwalmsleysremfpage

 

All contributions will go to making football (soccer) a reality for children around the World.