Nigel Toplis, managing director of the UK’s leading promotional product and branded clothing company Recognition Express has helped to raise thousands of pounds between two charities by organising a football match last Sunday.

The match was an intense battle between the star studded Once Upon a Smile FC celebrity team and Nigel’s team of top businessmen from the franchise industry. Players from Little Kickers, Printing.com, Signs Express, Recognition Express, Partridge Publishing, Making Money Magazine and What Franchise Magazine all took part in the event which raised just over £5,000 and has been divided equally between two charities, WellChild and Once Upon a Smile.

WellChild helps sick and seriously ill children and their families across the country through research, care and support and Once Upon a Smile offers respite breaks following an immediate family bereavement.

It was a tense 90 minutes but in the end the celebrity team were victorious with Ceallach Spellman scoring the winning goal making it 1-0 to Once Upon a Smile. Said Danny Miller co-founder of Once Upon a Smile: ‘The game, like every year was a great event and well planned. It is unusual to have a 1-0 score line in charity games but the entertainment value was great. It was a great day all round and I can not wait to return next year. Unfortunately an injury meant I could not play this year but as the famous quote once was ‘I’ll be back’.’

Added Nigel Toplis: “I would like to thank the celebrity team for taking time out of their busy schedules and everyone who worked so hard to make the day such a success. Also, a big thank you to the 200 people that attended and donated in support of two great causes.”

Nigel and Recognition Express have been supporting the work of WellChild for over a decade and has personally helped to raise £44,500 for the appeal. His exploits have included a gruelling bike ride in Cuba, a successful attempt to reach the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro and an eight-day 100km trek over the Sahara Desert which raised more than £12,000.