A kids' football team in North Hertfordshire has been able to provide free kit to all its players after a grant from a grassroots sports fund.

AO, the electricals retailer, has put together a six-figure funding pot that will be handed out as grants to sports teams across the UK.

One of the recipients is Baldock Town's under-14s team, with 18 players - and their parents - set to benefit from the free kit.

Gemma Windle, club spokesperson, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to AO for awarding us this funding. 

“We have a talented bunch of boys and they currently play in the Eastern Junior Alliance, which is a really good level. As it’s a serious league, the fees are high and there are fines if players turn up to games without the correct kit.

“Parents have been struggling to pay so this will help massively and give our boys the best possibly chance to play at a good level.”

AO launched its grassroots programme last year and initially invited staff to apply for funding for youth sports teams close to their heart, before opening it up to the public.

It allows community-led youth sports teams up-and-down the country to apply to have AO’s smile logo on the front of their shirt and their kits paid for by the company.

Teams who submit successful funding bids will then have their kits supplied to them by the UK’s KitKing, a teamwear specialist.

Vicky Monk, group marketing director at AO, said: “It’s amazing seeing the AO smile on kits up and down the country.

“We are incredibly passionate about creating opportunities for young people, who may not otherwise get the chances they deserve.

“We’re really proud that through this grassroots programme and our existing sponsorships, such as JagTag, Lancashire Cricket’s county age-groups and Bolton Lads and Girls Club, we can make sport accessible to almost half a million children in the next five years.”

Interested grassroots clubs are able to apply for funding through the retailer’s portal.