They look like a comedy team preparing to take the stage and entertain an audience at a theatre.

Nothing could be further from the truth – they were a team of footballers preparing to raise money for a good cause.

The beneficiaries were to be young patients in the children’s intensive care unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

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The men above were preparing to take on a team of women on the Nine Acres football pitch at Charlbury, near Witney, on a Sunday afternoon in 1989.

What’s more, the 11-strong men’s side started with a huge disadvantage – no fewer than 21 women, also in fancy dress, took to the field to take them on!

As one male spectator observed: “I wouldn’t dream of going out there and having my legs and ankles rapped, but it was great fun and for a worthy cause.”

Despite the uneven numbers, the men seem to have stood up well to the challenge as the game ended honours even with a 10-10 draw.

However, the women’s team had the last laugh – they won the game on penalties, scoring three to the men’s two.

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Everyone agreed it had been a great afternoon, with £1,000 being raised through sponsorship and donations for the hospital.

Rob Tudge organised the men’s team and Julie Downer recruited the women’s team. Sadly, we know the names of only two others who took part – David Harbod and his fiancée Julia Balshaw (rivalry before they married!).

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.