YOUNG footballers from Abingdon will get a new kit thanks to a funding boost from a leading housebuilder.

Abingdon Youth Football Club’s junior girls’ team has been selected as one of Persimmon Homes Wessex’s Community Champions, receiving £1,000 as the latest winner of the community campaign.

Abingdon Youth FC will use the donation to buy new training and away kits, and other equipment for its next season of matches.

Susan Claridge-Alder, the club's fundraising manager, said: “We are delighted that Persimmon Homes Wessex has chosen to support us and it will make a huge difference to the team.

“As a club we are looking to recruit more girls to play in girls only football teams.

"To be able to offer a safe and enjoyable place for teams, we needed financial support to purchase new kits. This £1,000 means we’ll be able to do just that.”

As part of the Community Champion initiative groups and charities who have already worked hard to raise money themselves can apply for match-funding of up to £1,000.

Pauline Fletcher, sales and marketing director at Persimmon Homes Wessex, said the Community Champions scheme is a way of supporting people across every city, town and village where the company works.

She said: “We are currently building at a site in Sutton Courtenay and are soon to be starting work at our Wellington Gate development in Grove, so we were delighted that an Oxford community group was selected as our Community Champion. We would like to wish the team great success."

Apply via persimmonhomes.com/charity