A MEMORIAL football match in aid of a dead teenager raised nearly £3,000 for charity.

Connor Saunders, 19, died after he was involved in an argument outside Tesco Express in West Street, Rottingdean, last month.

About 1,400 people attended a game on Wednesday arranged to celebrate the talented footballer, who played for Peacehaven and Telscombe FC.

Club officials said the game, which was held at its Piddinghoe Avenue home in Peacehaven, raised £2,500 in gate receipts. A further £300 was raised in a raffle of a signed Brighton and Hove Albion football shirt.

Andrew Melbourne, community development officer at the club, said: “It was a fantastic response from everyone in the town. When you have queues out of the door waiting to come in it just goes to show what so many people thought about Connor as a person. He is sadly missed.”

The game was between Peacehaven and Telscombe FC and Whitehawk FC, two of Connor’s former teams.

The money raised will go to a fund in his name which will buy life-saving heart equipment for semi-professional and amateur football clubs in Sussex.

The club is also selling wristbands in his name which read “PTFC #CS26 Always with us C Bear” for £2. For £3 there are tickets to go into a prize draw to win a signed shirt from Frankie Cocozza, the former X- Factor contestant, who was one of Connor’s best friends.

To buy them visit:www.pitchero.com/clubs/peacehaventels/shop.

Connor’s funeral takes place at St Margaret’s Church in Rottingdean on Friday at 11am. Those wanting to make a donation can leave money at the serv-ice or send cheques to Cooperative Funeral- care, 133 London Road, Brighton, BN1 4JH.