DELIGHTED youngsters were proudly showing off their new Crosfields junior football club kits thanks to Great Sankey soldier Tom Coleridge.

The 20-year-old, who suffered life-changing injuries after being shot in Afghanistan, paid for kits for four under 11s teams after coaches could not find a sponsor.

Tom, who played for the team when he was a youngster, said: “The kit looks awesome and all of the kids were saying thank you to me.

“I’m looking forward to watching them play when I’m home from rehab.”

The specially-designed kit has ‘Kingo’ across the front of the shirt, the nickname of the King’s Regiment, a British Army union flag on the left soldier, a badge from 1st Airborne regiment on the right shoulder and the names of charities that have helped Tom on the back.

Coaches and parents of children at the club have thanked Tom for his generous gesture.