It’s a happy Christmas for the Lincoln Griffins Under 15s football team which received a new kit sponsored by Lincoln-based charity Sophie’s Journey. 

The charity, which provides free holidays to Lincolnshire children with cancer and their families, has sponsored the kits for the team as a way of supporting a fellow strong community initiative.

Stacy Southwell, who runs the charity in memory of her daughter Sophie Robinson, said: “I’ve always wanted to give something back to our community after the amazing support we’ve had from many in it over the years, but wasn’t sure how to go about it.

“Sophie’s best friend and some of the girls she went to school with are part of the Lincoln Griffins team, so when I heard they were struggling to fund a new away kit I knew that offering to sponsor it was the answer.

“Everyone involved with Lincoln Griffins have been really supportive over the years, so it’s great to be able to give something back.

“No matter how they perform this season, they will be doing us all proud just by wearing their kits in Sophie’s favourite colour and emblazoned with the Sophie’s Journey logo.

“It should help to raise much-needed awareness of the charity as well as the football club and I’m excited to see just how far and wide Sophie’s Journey travels.”

Lincoln Griffins was established in 2000 and is the county’s only all-girls football club.

Gareth Carter, Chairman and Treasurer, said: “We are grateful to Stacy for stepping in to help fund the girls’ new kits and are looking forward to raising as much money as possible for Sophie’s Journey at our two planned fundraising events.”

Simon Gallop, the team’s manager, added: “Lincoln Griffins, like Sophie’s Journey, is all about helping the community and sticking by each other so it’s great to have Stacy’s support and we want to reciprocate that as much as we can.”

The Lincoln Griffins Under 15s team trains at Ruston Sports and Social Club in Lincoln on Tuesday evenings from 6.30pm until 8pm.

To find out more about Sophie’s Journey, visit: sophiesjourney.org.uk