A pub landlord wants to re-form a football team after more than half a century for a special charity match.

David Stocken is trying to track down surviving members of former Brighton club Vale Rovers.

All he has to go on is a faded black and white photograph showing the team in 1949.

The players, resplendent in not-so-short shorts and striped socks, would now be in their early 80s.

But the 35-year-old landlord of the Marquess of Exeter in Buxton Road, Brighton, and his partner Mo Devay are appealing for them or their younger relations to get in touch.

He admitted: "It may be a bit like searching for a needle in a haystack but we're going to give it a go.

"There must be some of the players, their children or even grandchildren out there."

The unusual quest came about after Mr Stocken's mother, Sonia Von-Geyer, 63, of Ditchling Rise, Brighton, suffered a stroke.

While recuperating, a friend sent her the ageing photo and she recalled her friendships with the players' children as a young girl.

Vale Rovers used to turn out at Patcham Place, Brighton.

Mr Stocken's friends, Ken and Sue George of Swift Sports in Grand Parade, Brighton, remembered the name.

But little else is known of the club or whether they were champs or chumps.

Mr Stocken hopes his appeal - and the picture - will jog some memories.

He said: "My mum used to go and watch them play with their kids.

"She lost touch long ago but we thought re-forming the team would be a really fantastic way of raising money for my mum's hospital."

Mrs Von-Geyer spent more than two months in the Sussex Rehabilitation Centre for stroke victims at Southlands Hospital in Shoreham.

Mr Stocken said: "It's terrible to see people getting frustrated because they can't move properly but they do a great job at the hospital.

"I'm not sure how much we could raise but it all helps.

"If the match goes well, we'd like to think about keeping the team as a permanent fixture with our other two sides."

Anyone who recognises themselves or a relative in the picture can contact David Stocken at the Marquess of Exeter pub on 01273 556708.