THE most capped player in English football history is speaking at a charity lunch to support sick children.

Peter Shilton OBE is starring at the Best of British charity sporting lunch at The Grand hotel in Brighton on Friday, June 1.

The fundraising event is celebrating ten years in Brighton and more than 500 guests from businesses in the city will join him as he recounts stories from the world of international football in this World Cup year.

More than £450,000 has been raised through the Best of British Brighton lunches, which has supported a variety of Sussex charities.

Since 2013, the beneficiary charity has been Rockinghorse.

Having celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, the children’s charity is best known as the official fundraising arm of the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton and is also a vital supporter of the neighbouring Trevor Mann Baby Unit.

The lunch has welcomed a variety of sporting stars over the years, who have entertained guests with humorous and poignant tales from their careers.

They include Sir Henry Cooper, Gordon Banks, Jimmy Greaves, Nobby Stiles, Frank Bruno and Sir Geoff Hurst.

Last year’s Best of British lunch welcomed Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards to Brighton and generous guests raised more than £35,000 towards Rockinghorse’s £500,000 anniversary appeal Sussex Giving for Sussex Children.

This year’s sold-out event will be raising funds for the charity’s Trevor Mann Baby Unit appeal.

Rockinghorse aims to raise enough funds to buy a real-time digital X-ray imaging facility to help treat premature babies on the unit.

Ryan Heal, Rockinghorse chief executive and founder of The Best of British charity lunches, said: “It has been an honour to run these events over the years and I’m very much looking forward to welcoming a true footballing legend to Brighton – Peter Shilton – who is the most capped player in English football history.

“I’ve no doubt that he will have some remarkable tales to tell.”

To find out more about Rockinghorse, visit www.rockinghorse.org.uk.

Rockinghorse is a Brighton-based charity that has been supporting children in Sussex for over 50 years. It was set up in 1967 by Dr Trevor Mann, who recognised there was a real need for additional resources to improve healthcare services for sick children and babies.

Best-known as the official fundraising arm of the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital (the Alex) in Brighton, the charity launched its ‘Sussex Giving for Sussex Children’ 50th anniversary appeal last year. During 2017 they raised £500,000 worth of funding to be split between 10 children’s centres and paediatric services across Sussex. Rockinghorse strives to make these services stimulating, cutting-edge and accessible for the many children, babies and young people who need them by supporting some truly deserving projects.

Rockinghorse does not receive any government funding and relies on the generous support of individuals, community groups, companies and trusts. Visit www.rockinghorse.org.uk