A CHARITY football match has raised more than £500 for the head injuries unit at Southampton General Hospital.

Former Saints star Steve Baker and George Prost - Southampton FC's youth academy manager - were among the players who took part in the match staged at Ewart Recreation Ground, Hythe, in a contest to raise cash for the hospital's world renowned neurological unit.

The match, held between Hythe and Dibden All Stars and Ex-Saints, was organised by Hythe's club coach Tim Balch as a thank you to the unit for saving his best friend's life.

Window cleaner Michael Cook, pictured inset with Tim, is well on the way to recovery after plunging 20 feet from a ladder and suffering life threatening head injuries.

The father-of-one's horrific accident was witnessed by his workmate Tim who decided to put on the match as a way of thanking the nurses and doctors at the hospital who brought his friend and colleague back from the brink of death.

Michael was cleaning flat windows near his home in Bournemouth at the end of September when he fell and hit his head.

He fell into a coma and spent more than two weeks on a life support machine at the hospital. However, he is now out of hospital and is making a promising recovery. Saints donated a signed shirt and other items which were auctioned after the match at the clubhouse.

Mr Balch said: "It was a really good day. It was excellent and everybody had a good time."