THE FOUNDER of an annual charity football match is promising it will be bigger than ever next year.

Neil Humphries, creator of The Big Match – a game featuring celebrities in aid of The Brain Tumour Charity and Action for Children – says the event will expand next year in order to collect more cash.

The match has grown into a family day out at the Madejski Stadium, with a children’s session before the main event, and this year it raised £75,000.

Mr Humphries, speaking after he handed the cash over to the charities on Friday, said that he was looking at adding a potential venue for another match in 2015.

He said: “We have raised more money than last year and that’s a fantastic achievement.

“We hope by expanding the event in other areas next year we will raise even more money.” A quiz night in aid of The Big Match is taking place at The Great Expectations pub, in London Street, on Thursday, October 30.

For more information, visit www.thebigmatch.co.uk The evening will feature X-Factor semi-finalist Danyl Johnson and start at 8pm.

Jessica Tres, the head fundraising for The Brain Tumour Charity, added: “These donations make a fundamental difference.

“What people don’t realise is that brain tumours are the biggest killer of people under 40.

“That needs to change so that we can improve survival rates.”