Hearts and Hibs fans are set to clash in Edinburgh – to help raise money for charity.

The annual Edinburgh Charity football game – held at Tynecastle on Sunday, April 5 – will see fans pull on the colours of their beloved teams and go hell for leather to raise funds for Children with Cancer and Leukaemia Advice and Support for Parents (CCLASP).

The aid organisation is a children's charity run by parents whose children have been affected by various types of cancer.

Game organiser Scott Moncrieff outlined the importance of community involvement.

“We depend solely on players coming along to the trials and in turn to raise sponsor money,” he said.   

“We ensure that the money stays locally and usually choose a smaller charity rather than a nationwide one. Usually one that touches peoples hearts.”

It’s also a fantastic opportunity for amateur footballers to fulfil their lifelong dreams at the 17,000-capacity stadium.

“We rely on people from Edinburgh coming along to watch the games. We average around 750 for each game, which is great, but we aim to spread the word more and more and hopefully get over 1000 at each match in the future,” explained Mr Moncrieff.

“For 90 minutes charity goes out of the window and tackles fly in left, right and centre.  It’s great for the fans to watch,” he said.

The players selected to lock horns were required to fill out an online application form, before they were invited to a trial where the final squads were whittled down by a team of coaches.

The Edinburgh Charity game was the brainchild of Steve Jones, a season ticket holder at Tynecastle for many years.

He came up with an idea of a friendly game between internet forums Jambos Kickback and Hibs.Net.  

The game was planned to take place on a public park one Sunday afternoon – but following negotiations with Hearts’ then CEO Phil Anderton, it was agreed that the game would be staged at Tynecastle.

Since then the event has raised more than £33,000 for local charities.

For more information visit the Edinburgh Charity Game. For highlights on previous blood and thunder encounters click here.