CHARITY begins at home for York RI Under-12s girls.

The reigning City of York Girls’ League champions and cup holders are wearing a new kit emblazoned with the name and logo of Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Nestlé provided the girls with a new kit, but did not want their name on the shirt, so manager Chris Collins and the players decided to let a charity have the space.

Kat Richardson, York RI chairman, took the partnership further by announcing that the club would adopt Marie Curie as their chosen charity until the end of the 2015/16 season.

Collections will be made at the annual boys and girls one day and new 11-a-side tournaments in May.

The kit was presented at the National Women’s Football Festival, hosted by the University of York Women’s Football Club.

Afterwards, the girls took part in a coaching session at York Sports Village run by Ruth Brazier, of York City FC, and involving Doncaster Belles goalkeeper Nicola Hobbs.

Chris Collins said: “This was a real buzz for them as they talked and played with a female professional footballer, giving them all something to aspire to.”