More than £1,000 was raised by a west Dorset football club at its new look Christmas party.
Father Christmas made an early visit to children as he visited Lyme Regis Football Club’s Christmas party last weekend.
The football club hosted around 30 children as part of the Seasiders’ new look Christmas celebrations, which help to raise money for the club.
Children were handed a gift by Lyme Regis mayor Cllr David Sarson, who dressed up as Santa at the party, which was organised by the club’s vice-chairman Francesca Evans.
A festive tea was also laid on for the children, which served a selection of snacks and drinks to members children under the age of 12.
The club’s kitchen also did a roaring trade, selling German hot dogs with sauerkraut to punters watching the game against Lapford on Saturday, December 16.
The festive celebrations went on to make a profit of more than £1,000, which combined the children’s party with the club’s annual Christmas raffle and a mini beer festival organised by chairman Gerard Hitchcock, and the club are looking to grow the celebrations after its success this year.
Miss Evans said: “This was the first time we had held a Christmas party of this kind and we plan to expand next year over two days to make it one of our principal fundraising events.”
She also added her thanks to Betty Hitchcock, Maureen Reed and Fiona Blackmore for organising the raffle which itself made a profit of £725 and included prizes consisting of hampers, vouchers and bottles.
The Lyme footballers were not quite so successful on the pitch, however, losing 6-0 to the former league champions.
Despite the defeat, the players did join in with the festive fun after the game as party music and celebrations went on late into the evening.
Former club top scorer Joe Bond, who has been forced to retire due to injury, was named as the non-playing ‘man-of-the match’, claiming a pound of sausages from sponsor Lyme Bay Butchers, which was presented by Dave Holland.
Next year’s fundraising at the football club will include bi-monthly Sunday lunches, fortnightly bingo sessions, the 50th anniversary of the club's Davey Fort ground, the popular sausage and cider festival and a big breakfast.
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