VETERAN footballers will be lacing up their boots for a charity match at Alton Town’s Anstey Park ground on Sunday.

The Cockney Rebels, predominantly made up of players from Alton, Farnham, Aldershot, Guildford, Headley and the outskirts of London, will play a touring team from Chicago who are managed by former Farnham man Brian Blankley.

Originally set up as a team representing British Airways out of Heathrow, the Cockney Rebels, who all play in the Farnham Sunday Veterans League, regularly compete in over-50s competitions overseas in the United States and the Caribbean.

One of the current Cockney Rebels players, Dave Hawtin, director of football at Wessex League side Alton Town, said after Sunday’s fundraiser against Chicago the veterans will be competing in Barbados from June 8-10 while a return to Phoenix, Arizona, is planned for October.

He said: “I believe there are more than 40 in the travelling party, including four or five from an ex-pats side called the Crown & Anchor who operate out of Los Angeles and who we have formed a great relationship with.”

Played in aid of Treloar School and College in Holybourne, the game at The Enclosure kicks off at 5pm.