​Michael Owen sends Worthing pub’s new women’s football team good luck message for charity game

Speaking from his home in North Wales, the former striker said: "Hey everyone, Michael Owen here. I hope you're all well. I'm just sat at home and a message has come through to tell me of a game that's coming up, and not only a normal game but a charity game.

"So, I just wanted to send this message to the ladies of O'Connor's pub and to say good luck. I know you are playing in a charity football match against the The Smugglers Return pub to raise money for St Barnabas House, so good luck everybody.

"I know not everybody has played football before but I know you've been training hard, so all the very best. You're doing it for a great charity and good luck in the game. Take care."

He left them with a thumbs up and a big smile as they continue preparations for the match at Worthing Football Club, in Woodside Road, on Friday, December 1, at 7pm.

Angie Deeprose, manager of O'Connor's, in Warwick Street, said: "Most of us have never played football before but we have been training every week. We are women, most of us are in our 40s, and we were inspired by the Women's World Cup.

"There's been a big response to it. Plenty of people who are keen on seeing middle aged women making a fool of themselves.”

Angie is also hosting the event in memory of her brother Alan Brown, who died from cancer at the age of 44.

Alan was regularly supported by the team at St Barnabas House.

Angie added: “We wanted to do something to help them. Nearly everyone knows someone who has been at St Barnabas.

"They do amazing work there. They are so good at what they do. I don't know how they do their job.”

The team from O'Connor's has been spurred on by the good luck message from Michael Owen and the women hope it will help raise even more money for the hospice in Worthing, which serves Worthing, Lancing, Shoreham, Littlehampton, Henfield, Steyning, Partridge Green and Storrington. The event is free-entry but spectators are asked to make a donation into the charity buckets at the venue, which will also be taken to the pubs afterwards.

A family-run food business, named Jim Jams, will be providing Greek street food at the charity match.

Run by Jamie-Lee Horn and her partner Daniel, Jim Jams set up a new Greek business in Tarring – via Uber – in October.

It is the business’ newest of seven mobile catering units with ‘a lot of demand’ so far.

Visit www.gofundme.com/f/b6mtgu-charity-football-match to make a donation. More than £550 has already been raised for charity.

Beth French, who organised the fundraising page, said: "Do you want to join us in making a difference? We’re doing a charity football match to raise money in aid of St Barnabas House and every donation will help, Smugglers vs O’Connor’s ladies. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to us.

"St Barnabas House provides specialist palliative care to adults with life-limiting illnesses, both within the hospice and in the comfort of patients' own homes across West Sussex.

"Patients are never charged for their care, but only a small part of our care costs are state funded. This means that the majority of the money has to be raised through voluntary donations from people in local communities within the Worthing, Adur, Arun and Henfield areas. People like you."