Young footy fans in Langley Mill and Heanor are taking on police next week to help raise money for a local international wheelchair athlete.

The young people, who are aged between 15 and 21, will be challenging officers from the Langley Mill and Heanor Safer Neighbourhood policing teams, licensing and task force, to a match at the Charles Hill Sport Complex in Loscoe.

It will take place as part of activities to celebrate 150 years of the Football Association on Saturday, August 10.

All the young people involved take part in a local football scheme, which takes place every Wednesday and was initially set up by police and Futures Homescape.

The sessions were organised to help provide young people with a positive activity they could take part in, and an alternative to gathering on the streets.

Both the youth and police teams are hoping to raise money for Phil Hogg, an international wheelchair athlete from Heanor.

The youngsters chose to fundraise for Phil, who needs cash for a new wheelchair which will allow him to compete in the Paralympics games in Rio in 2016.

Phil, who is also known as ‘Wheelie Phil’, suffered a spinal cord injury in a road traffic collision when he was younger which left him paralysed from the waist down.

The game will kick off at 2pm, and there will also be a raffle and an auction for a signed Chelsea football shirt.

PCSO Jenny Lorimer, of the local Safer Neighbourhood policing team, has been helping to organise the match.

She said: “We were invited to take part in the FA anniversary celebrations at the Charles Hill Sports Complex and decided to set up a charity football match.

“The young people have been really enthusiastic and selected their own cause to support, which we fully support.”

PCSO Lorimer added: “We would really like to raise as much money as we possibly can for this inspirational man from Heanor, which will go towards the equipment he needs to compete.

“Please come along and support us at the event which I’m sure will turn out to be quite competitive but most of all will be a bit of fun.”

For more information, or to offer support to the match, contact PCSO Jenny Lorimer of the Codnor, Waingroves and Langley Mill Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team by calling 101, the non emergency number for Derbyshire police or email ripley.neighbourhoods@derbyshire.pnn.police.uk

To view the event page for the full event please follow this link.