JAKE Quickenden is taking to the football pitch to help raise money for an Essex-based charity.

The X Factor star, who lives in Boxted, is among the famous faces taking part in a celebrity football match at Bowers and Pitsea Football Club in Basildon on Saturday, May 25.

The game will kick off at 3pm and is in aid of Little Havens, based in Thundersley.

A number of popular celebrities will be taking part in the event including reality star Jake Quickenden, Boyzone’s Shane Lynch, UB40’s Matt Hoy, and Loose Women panellist Linda Robson.

There is also DJ Jumpin Jack Frost, rapper Devlin, rapper Jethro Sheeran, The Gentleman’s Chris Evangelou, body transformation champ Matthew Riggs, and actor Tamer Hassan.

The event is to raise money for Little Havens, a charity supporting children and young people with incurable conditions, and is sponsored by Fatty’s Bar, which is a football-mad pub owned by Jo and Steve Lowe, in Hadleigh.

The fundraiser has also been backed by England legend Alan Shearer, who has donated two signed shirts to raffle.

Kieran Morgan, one of the organisers of the event, said: “We are really excited.

“It is a community-based event to help support Little Havens. We went down there a few weeks ago, and it is just amazing to see the work they do. It is such an important charity that helps so many people – not just the children it helps, but their siblings, and families too. They do so much, it is unbelievable.

“So we wanted to do something to help support them. I want to thank all the celebrities, the sponsors, Jo and Steve at Fatty’s Bar, everyone for making this happen. We are hoping to go on to make this a yearly event if it is successful in raising money for Little Havens.”

Tickets at the gate will cost £13 for an adult, and £7 for under 12s. All proceeds will be going to Little Havens.

After the match, an event will be hosted at Fatty’s Bar where a raffle will be held.

Matthew Riggs, from Basildon, and has lost more than 13 stone to become a body-transformation champion. He is looking forward to taking part in the match with his new-found fitness.

He said: “I am so excited and honoured to play on the celebrity team for an excellent charity. Thinking how far I have come from a 27.5 stone man to a 14st athlete, my journey is known worldwide now, so with all that I am looking forward to raising as much money as we can.

"I have a friend who receives support from Little Havens for her daughter, and they are just amazing. It is so important as they really rely on fundraising.”