Standard and council are on the ball for Tom (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Standard and council are on the ball for Tom

caption: Standard captain and midfielder Simon Crump and Cotswold District Council's Andy Hughes challenge for the ball. Picture by Richard Pasco.

IT was honours even in the big match between a Standard Guest 11 and Cotswold District Council.

But everyone was a winner in supporting the Tom's Friends Appeal at the Corinium Stadium on Tuesday evening.

A healthy crowd turned out to support the sides and raise money for local youngster Tom Tooley, who was left paralysed when he had a haemorrhage following an operation to remove a brain tumour.

The Standard surged into a 4-0 first-half lead but, following some "youthful" substitutions, CDC came back strongly in the second half and, despite guest appearances by Giggles the Monkey and Zorro, the score finished 6-6.

Standard editor Peter Davison said: "We would like to thank CDC, Cirencester Town Football Club, everyone who donated raffle prizes and all those who turned out to support the event."

More than £300 was raised on the night.

*The Standard has been given an England football shirt signed by David Beckham which we intend to auction for Tom's Friends. To find out how to make a bid, see next week's Standard.

* AS the Tom's Friends Appeal reaches £5,500 Standard readers are continuing to dream up fundraising ideas. School friend of Tom Tooley, Sophie Bennett, is planning a sky dive for the appeal on April 26.

While a trampolining marathon, which involved teenagers from Deer Park School Rory Fuchs, Ben Cowell, Joe Davis, Matt Pierce, Stuart Hawes and Mark Assenti raised £394.50. It lasted for six hours and took place on March 20.

Cirencester Round Table has donated £500 towards our appeal.

Bourton-on-the-Water Baptist Church is holding a coffee morning in May.

Let us know if you are holding a fundraising event in aid of the appeal.

* Full report and pictures in next week's Standard.