Following an initiative by Fylde RFU President Allan Townsend, the Woodlands will stage a fund raising afternoon for the Help for Heroes charity campaign on Saturday, 30 August.

At 1pm there will be a challenge match between the 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards), based at Weeton Barracks, and a Fylde Wanderers/Development XV.

The Green Howards have a fine record of producing excellent rugby players and will be expected to field a very competitive team.

A number of Fijian soldiers usually feature in their line-ups.

This match will be an important build up to the new season for the young and highly promising Wanderers squad.

Army personnel are expected to swell what is anticipated to be a healthily sized crowd.

At 3pm, Fylde 1st XV take on National Two friends and rivals over the last five seasons Tynedale in their final pre-season test before the start of league action against Huddersfield at the Woodlands on September 6.

This will be an important test of the effectiveness of Director of Rugby Mark Nelson's pre-season training regime.

Help For Heroes was the idea of cartoonist Bryn Parry and a group of friends and relations, many of who have connections with serving servicemen and women.

Bryn and his wife Emma wanted to do something to help the wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan and came up with the idea of a sponsored bike ride.

They mentioned it to some friends who mentioned it to some more friends and suddenly Help For Heroes was born and growing fast.

A flurry of visits to various offices led to the campaign being blessed by the head of the army, Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt.

Help For Heroes is backed by the Army Benevolent Fund, the Army's own charity that does wonderful work for soldiers and other servicemen and women both directly and through its support of other service charities.

Bryn Parry served for 10 years in The Royal Green Jackets before leaving the Army in 1985 to become a cartoonist.

The Woodlands fund raiser is also supported by the Blackpool Victoria Hospital which is involved in treating injured services personnel.

There will be an admission charge of £5 (£2 for concessions, young people 18 and below and Services Personnel in uniform free) for the two games with all of the proceeds going to Help for Heroes.

A fund raising raffle will also be held.

Allan Townsend would be very grateful for any donations of raffle prizes - contact him via the Club on 01253 734733 or e-mail info@fylderugby.co.uk for this very good cause.

There will also be a major fundraiser at Twickenham on September 20 when two international teams meet in a venture aimed at raising £1M for Help for Heroes.

English international star Josh Lewsey said: "The opportunity for injured personnel from the armed forces to be able to receive treatment and rehabilitation amongst other military personnel is absolutely essential to morale.

"Therefore, any initiative that raises money for the services has my absolute full support."