AN ENGLAND football legend helped raise thousands for a West Oxfordshire charity as he chatted about his career.

A packed Wychwood Brewery hung onto every word as Stuart 'Psycho' Pearce was interviewed by TV presenter and Oxford United fan, Jim Rosenthal, in a fundraising event for Charlbury-based SpecialEffect yesterday.

The afternoon in Witney was a 'warm up' for the 2020 Twin Town Challenge, a biennial charity car rally from Blenheim Palace to Witney's twin town, Le Touquet, in France.

Mr Pearce reflected on a career where he gained 78 England caps and played for clubs like Nottingham Forest and West Ham United.

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He had guests in stitches with stories from his time in the game, before signing items that were auctioned off in aid of the grateful charity.

Events coordinator, Tom Donegan, revealed SpecialEffect had used its network of contacts to secure 'Psycho' for the afternoon.

He said: "One of our supporters is a mate of his and put in a call for us. Stuart does a lot of charity work and was happy to help.

"There were plenty of funny stories about playing for England with the likes of Paul Gascoigne, but not many I can repeat.

"The afternoon had so much laughter, it was brilliant - it was more like a comedy show."

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Mr Rosenthal, an ambassador for the charity, put questions from the audience to Mr Pearce, with one guest even brave enough to ask about the ex-left back's missed penalty in the 1990 World Cup semi final.

Among the items auctioned off included tickets for the FA Cup final and the Ashes, plus signed England and Premier League shirts.

SpecialEffect uses video games to enhance the lives of people with disabilities.