A celebrity charity football game will take place at Ramsgate’s Southwood ground this weekend.

The match on Saturday has been arranged by Chris Fallon, who runs Canterbury-based community football project Focus United.

It will see one of Focus United’s sides take on UK 3 Lions, the latter managed by one-time England forward Kerry Dixon, who played for Chelsea from 1983 until 1992.

Focus United work with a wide range of people in the community, including those as young as under-10, marginalised individuals and also vulnerable adults.

Fallon said: “I called on an old friend, who manages UK 3 Lions.

“It’s a team made-up of ex-footballers, performers, a couple of British actors and some reality TV stars.

“I said ‘I want to do this celebrity football match’ and they agreed, so I contacted James Lawson, the chairman at Ramsgate, because I know one of their players from back in the day.

“I said ‘James, I want to do this game to raise money for the British Lung Foundation and local charities’ and he said ‘That’s a great idea’.

“We have got Kerry Dixon - he was a Chelsea player from back in the day - who will be an honorary coach.

“We have got Dalton Grant, an Olympic high jumper, and singer Zalon Thompson involved. He worked with Amy Winehouse on her ‘Back to Black’ album.”

Fallon was full of praise for the backing Mr Lawson and the Rams have given him.

“They have been phenomenal,” he said. “We had a photoshoot there one evening and James let me use the stadium for the promotion for the charity game.

“James has been absolutely excellent in supporting me. I can’t say enough, really.

“Ramsgate Trophies & Engraving Ltd have donated the Charity Cup for us and we have had a lot of people offer their support.

“I think it’s for a really great cause.”

The match will help raise awareness for the British Lung Foundation - a charity Fallon has a close affiliation with - as well as other good causes.

Fallon said: “That’s one part of it.

"Eight years ago, I had problems with my breathing and didn’t really know what was going on. I went to the doctors, had a lung function test and they said I had 30% lung capacity.

“I thought ‘Crikey’ - because I was 36 or 37 at the time. They said I was losing 10% per year.

“Basically, I had nigh-on three years to live nearly 10 years ago!

“I got referred to the Royal Brompton Hospital and they had five valves in my lungs to reduce the size of the lung. After three years, they started failing and they were talking about double lung transplants, but I said ‘Oh, that’s heavy!’. They said ‘Well, effectively, there’s nothing we can do’.

“Five days later, they rang me back and said ‘We can give you a lobectomy, which is 50% lung removal’. Usually, it’s for patients with Stage 1 cancer.

“They said they could do that. It would reduce the size of the lung but give me more capacity to breathe and asked ‘Do you want to do that?’. I said yes so I had that lobectomy. The Royal Brompton Hospital and British Lung Foundation have really supported me.

“Effectively, they have saved my life - not just once - but twice. I want to give something back for all the great work that they do.

"It’s not just for myself but for others, as well.”

Fallon, now 44, has plenty of experience of coaching football within communities - but won’t be putting his boots back on.

He said: “Oh, no. I can only just about walk down the road!

“I am just organising it - and will leave it to the people that can actually run to play the game. I used to play in goal. I was a good goalkeeper when I was young and played for Leyton Orient.

“But then I went down the road of alcohol and drugs. But I’ve turned my life around.

“I’ve been teetotal for almost 12 years and do a lot of work with addicts and alcoholics.”

While Fallon is unsure how many will turn up, it’s the funds raised which matter more.

He said: “It’s very difficult to predict. I would imagine that there will be a good few hundred.

“At the end of the day, all we can do is set everything up. We have a UEFA Concacaf referee, Nolan Foster, coming down.

“McDonald’s - who support me and my project on Sturry Road - they’re going to provide the water on the day for the players and the ball boys. They have been a great support.

“They helped make the banner for my club. So, I’ve had a lot of support.

“I’m hoping there will be a good turnout but, at the end of the day, I’m not too fussed.

"I’m more interested in the cause and trying to raise a little bit of money.”

Family tickets for up to five people are £15, a single ticket is £10, with concessions £5.

Tickets can be purchased from bookitbee.com or spectators can pay on the day.