Bristol Rovers and City fans have put their rivalry to one side to play a fans' game in aid of Help for Heroes.

The friendly was played yesterday at Bristol Barbarians Rugby Club, Whitchurch, and the honours went to Rovers 7-0. It raised £4,500 for the charity, which supports wounded servicemen and women.

Organiser Tim Dicks, 26, a recruitment consultant from Bristol, said: "We had fans from both sides and the whole point was to raise vital funds for Help for Heroes.

"There was a collection and raffle with prizes including signed Bristol City and Rovers shirts and a holiday to Ireland."

City fan Tim, who is taking on a 126-mile run from Bristol to Plymouth over eight days in March, described the event as "fantastic" and said he hoped to make it an annual fixture.

Andy Greenslade, 34, a hotel sale manager originally from Clevedon, opened Rovers' account with a superb strike. The second goal – also for Rovers – was hit home by Andy's brother Chris, 28, an RAF serviceman from Clevedon with two tours of Afghanistan under his belt.

Representing City, Pete Haynes, 24, a student who lives in Gloucester Road, said: "We are supporting Help For Heroes and the normal banter has been put aside. It is all good natured and there are people from all walks of life."

Dawn O'Brien, 26, a Metropolitan police worker from London, was supporting husband Kiaran 41, in goal for Rovers.

As a City effort skewed wide of the posts she said: "It is definitely for a good cause and worth supporting. My husband's doing quite well but the back line has been pretty solid."

Wynffordd Davies, 53, who served in the Household Cavalry and used to live in Nailsea, said he had never seen such large crowds supporting Remembrance Sunday parades and put it down to publicity focusing on the conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He said: "I think we should continue in Afghanistan as it is what we signed up for.

"The majority of the public are behind us. People join the armed forces with the understanding that they could, can and do go to war."

Rebekah Davies, 25, a client accountant from Nailsea, was supporting her player boyfriend Thomas Cook, 34, an NHS worker from Nailsea.