ALBION fans living more than 10,000 miles from The Amex took on arch rivals Crystal Palace in a charity game.

Brighton and Hove Albion supporters’ club Seagulls Downunder held the annual Robert Eaton Memorial Fund Charity Match in Sydney.

They faced off against Antipodean Crystal Palace fans in raising money for the charity.

The Seagulls extended their unbeaten run to six matches and almost secured victory, but for a late Crystal Palace strike that levelled the scores at 3-3.?Steve Longly, founder of Seagulls Downunder, said he was delighted to see another big turnout for the game.

The charity raises money in memory of Albion fan Robert Eaton, who died in the World Trade Centre terror attack in 2001.

Mr Longly said: “The first Brighton Palace game was almost like jumpers for goalposts, it was hastily put together. They raised some money and gave it to a children’s charity in New York for disadvantaged kids?“I arrived here in Australia ten years ago, and about seven years ago I had the idea to get a supporters club up, to get about ten guys together to watch the odd game.

“Seven years later there’s 500 of us. It’s just escalated and got bigger and bigger and bigger.”?Former Albion midfielder Paul Reid, who currently plays for Rockdale City Suns and works for Sydney FC, scored twice against the Eagles, and he commented on how he first got in contact with Longly.

He said: “I’ve known Steve for quite a few years, I met him over in England when I was playing for Brighton. He said he was coming over and I stayed in contact with him ever since.”

For more details visit seagullsdownunder.com.