SURREY Fire and Rescue Service will join teams from across Europe for a day of football to commemorate the centenary of the Battle of the Somme and raise tens of thousands of pounds for charity.

Teams from as far afield as Germany and Cyprus will line up with 20 military and civilian sides of all ages for the event at Surrey Sports Park in Guildford on July 1 to remember the 20,000 British soldiers killed on the first day of the battle.

It has been arranged to raise money for The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regimental benevolence fund and the Army’s Soldiers’ Charity.

Richard Walsh, Surrey County Council’s cabinet member for localities and community wellbeing, said: “We should never forget the people who have lost their lives for our country and this day of football fun is a great way to remember them and raise money for charities doing such good work with soldiers.”

The tournament kicks off at 10am and is free for spectators.