A gym at a Norwich school came alive with community spirit last night to watch former Norwich City players swap their footie boots for trainers to raise money for the blind in a charity basketball match.

Families, students and staff came to the match at Notre Dame High School, on Surrey Street, to support the Notre Dame team – who were made up of school staff, teachers and former students – as they took on former Canaries players.

Levent Utku, sports co-ordinator at the school, was also playing with the team and said they were all very excited about last night's event.

He added: 'It's nice to see the 'old boys' back again and there's a good atmosphere here.'

More than 100 people came to see the match and to help raise �500 for the Norfolk and Norwich Association for the Blind (NNAB).

Mr Utku said: 'We are happy to be raising this money for NNAB and it is part of our commitment to helping the community.'

The Canary team were reunited by Jeremy Goss and making up the rest of the squad were Darren Huckerby, Bryan Gunn, Craig Fleming, Dean Ashton, Gary Holt, Daryl Sutch and former Canary sports scientist Dave Carolan.

A nervous looking Mr Huckerby joked before the match about being out of his comfort zone but said: 'We'll give it a go.'

Doing just that, the Canary team scored the first three points, but Notre Dame eventually won the match 40-36.

Steve Bradley, from the Norwich 99.9 radio station, compered the evening for the fans, who where then invited to meet the former footballers for photographs and autographs at the end.

A raffle was also drawn and included the prize of a signed NCFC ball. Year 8 Notre Dame students Megan Abbott, 13, from Horsford, and Georgie Leak, 12, from Costessey, both came to cheer their teachers on.

Megan said: 'Charities don't get a lot of help and doing things like this helps them.'

Georgie added: 'This event supports charity and gives everyone a good time as well.'

All funds raised will be used to support the NNAB's work among the estimated 20,000 blind and visually impaired people in Norfolk – that includes practical support and advice on how to continue living independently.

Mr Goss is now the events fund-raiser for the NNAB and is undertaking the Back to Bayern challenge later this year where he will cycle from Norwich to the scene of his famous 1993 goal against Bayern Munich.

For more information on NNAB, visit www.nnab.org.uk or call 01603 629558.

Are you organising a charity event? Contact Donna-Louise Bishop on 01603 772438 or email donna-louise.bishop@ archant.co.uk.