Gillingham boss Steve Evans has pledged £250 of his own money to help the Shrimpers Trust in their campaign to raise funds for an Essex children’s hospice.

Members of the Trust walked to Priesfield from Southend, setting off from the club's Roots Hall ground at 11pm on Friday night, arriving at Priestfield in time for kick off.

One of the first people they bumped into on Saturday was Evans, who had just arrived at the ground himself, and he was thrilled to meet the group.

“I shook hands with every one of them,” he said.

“It gives you a little hope when you read all of this nonsense from Parliament and about Brexit that there are people out there giving everything they can to a good cause.”

• Report: Gillingham 3 Southend 1
• Reaction: All credit to the players

Nine Shrimpers Trust members got together for the walk with Southend United's head of commercial Rhys Ellingham completing the 33.4 miles trek.

Their target was to raise £3,000 for the Little Havens Hospice in Benfleet and they have already smashed that.

“My family will donate £250,” said the Gills boss.

“Those guys I met were really nice, there was nothing said about the game, nothing about who was going to win, it was just about doing something for a great cause.”

Little Havens provide care to local children and young people aged from birth to 19 who have life limiting or life threatening conditions. Their support also helps parents and siblings through tough times.

The fundraising page can be found here.