DEDICATED cops donned an entirely different uniform to take on Swindon Town backroom staff in memory of a fellow officer.

The boys in blue stepped onto the hallowed County Ground turf to take on the Robins’ staff yesterday afternoon in a fundraising event for Fatboy’s Cancer Charity, which was established in 1999 in memory of PC Mike ‘Fatboy’ Lawless – a Swindon officer who died of cancer at just 31.

Popular officer Mike was a keen rugby player and was the vocalist and guitarist with local rock band, Animal House.

The charity committee consists of friends and police colleagues and became a fully registered charity six years ago.

Over the years it has raised more than £95,000.

Despite suffering a heavy 7-0 defeat, Detective Sergeant Jim Taylor, who led the Lawless XI, said: “We were down 5-0 in the first half but a change of formation and tactics in the second resulted in a 7-0 defeat.

“It was great fun and a fantastic opportunity.

“We work closely with Swindon Town regularly in terms of football intelligence and we have close links with them so it was great we could set this up. We are hoping to raise £200 which doesn’t sound like much but it can buy a kid a Wii or an iPad.

“The charity started small with only a few occasional events but now our annual fundraiser, a rugby match between our charity side, the Lawless XV, and Wiltshire Police, raises between £4,000 and £8,000 during the day.

“The money raised is predominantly used to purchase gifts for children suffering with cancer, leukaemia or other serious illness and the group also donate to other related causes.

“Three years ago we also donated a substantial amount to an orphanage in Goa, India, which kept the facility open for another 12 months.”

More details of the charity can be found at www.fatboyscharity.co.uk.

Donations are welcome and can be made via the internet at www.justgiving.com/fatboyscancercharity/Donate or by cheques payable to Fatboys charity to PO Box 2812, Chippenham, SN15 5WZ.