Gosling Sports Park Football Stadium, in Welwyn Garden City, hosted an exciting charity Arsenal veteran football match over the bank holiday weekend.

The match, put on by Gosling Sports Park & Codicote Football Club, saw hundreds of local families and football fans descend upon the 52-acre Sports Park for the special Open Day, which started with rain fall but luckily the sunshine came out by the end.

Among the star players were TV favourites, Ralf Little from The Royle family; Ground Force's Tommy Walsh; Ex Arsenal player Chris Whyte; Stuart Wardley (Ex QPR); and Eastenders heart throb 'Leon', aka Sam Attwater, in goal.

The celebs showed off their football skills to help raise thousands of pounds for the match charity, The Willow Foundation, founded in 1999 by ex Arsenal goalie, Bob Wilson. (A charity which provides more than 100 special days each month for young people living with life-threatening illnesses).

Local Radio station, Jack FM, sent their Jack's Girls along to help cheer on the teams and enjoy competitions, Gosling prizes, music and BBQ throughout the day. Codicote Youth FC Manager, Rob Frowd, also ran a popular Junior 5-a-side football tournament (on Gosling's new 3G football pitches), as well as half time football displays and tricks from Gosling football partners Brazilian Soccer Schools, whose Head Coach Andrew Anastasiou also took part in the charity match. (You can still sponsor players at www.codicotefc.com)

The final score was 6-2 to the visiting team, with Stuart Wardley showing his ex-pro skills with 5 goals, and Ralf Little netting 1. Codicote's goal scorers were Dave Lovell and Dean Greenough. The day was rounded off with autograph signings and photo opportunities with the players, as well as the FA vase which was brought in especially for the footy fans.

Gosling also welcomed visitors and members along for Gosling's community Open Day - encouraging people to come and try FREE sports tasters throughout the day including mini tennis drop in sessions, a tennis exhibition match with Gosling player's Ben Davis v Pierre Clad, fastest serve competitions with 'Hit n Run' (Gosling Tennis Shop), plus FREE ski tasters, kid's trampolining & gymnastics, personal training tasters & more!

Gosling Football Stadium has recently enjoyed welcoming new crowds to its grounds thanks to the arrival of new resident football clubs Codicote FC & Hatfield Town FC, and is proving to be the ideal community hub for local football once more - with more large events like this set to take place in the future.

Codicote FC (who celebrate their 100th Anniversary next year), and Gosling Sports Park, are already planning similar annual events for the next few years, with Ian Moody, Secretary of Codicote FC, saying: "Our target was to raise £2,000 for The Willow Foundation this year, and will definitely do it again. We've got Chelsea next year, then Tottenham and maybe Aston Villa. It was a great afternoon, the sun eventually came out and we all thoroughly enjoyed the game, shame about the Result! A lot of hard work went into the event and I would like to thank Holly Burrows and Mark Williams from the Gosling Sports Park and all behind the scenes at Codicote FC for making our first charity match a success."

Gosling Sports Park enjoyed the day and working with new resident Football Club Codicote FC in the first of many charity football events, and were pleased to see the Stadium being packed out for the local event. Gosling said: "As one of Hertfordshire's largest sporting venues, and also one of only few Football Stadium and athletics tracks in the area, we were proud to host such a great event - and for such a good cause also. We look forward to next year and making it an annual event for the whole community to enjoy."