ON her fourth birthday, Oxford United helped give amputee Charlotte Nott one of the best presents she had ever had.

The club yesterday launched a fundraising drive to raise money for her and the charity which is helping her play the computer games she loves.

Thanks to Oxfordshire charity SpecialEffect, the Cowley youngster can now play games like FIFA 12 using only her eyes or specially-developed controls.

She celebrated at the U’s training ground in Roman Way, Cowley, by helping captain Jake Wright lead his virtual team to victory against fellow players, including goalkeeper Ryan Clarke.

Mr Wright said: “Charlotte is brilliant. I’ve got my own boy, who is five, and it’s lovely to see she’s just as confident and friendly as he is.

“The technology here is absolutely brilliant. You don’t think about things like this when you’re able-bodied, but the charity is fantastic.”

Charlotte lost the lower parts of all four of her limbs in 2010 as doctors at the John Radcliffe Hospital battled to save her from an aggressive form of meningitis.

More than a year later, she is fighting fit but was having trouble playing computer games as she was unable to hold a standard controller.

So parents Jenny Daniels and Alex Nott got in touch with Charlbury-based SpecialEffect, which is dedicated to helping all young people enjoy technology.

Charity founder and director Dr Mick Donegan said: “We have been working with Charlotte to see if there are games we can help her to play.

“The whole idea is to put people with disabilities on a level playing field with everyone else. It’s about improving their quality of life.

“We wanted to find a way to help them play with their brothers and sisters and enjoy themselves like everyone else.”

The charity loans technology to families like Charlotte’s and are giving her a specially-adapted Nintendo Wii.

Charlotte’s dad said: “She is absolutely mad about games. Her favourite is Dora the Explorer.

“She has had a go with the eye controls and it’s unbelievable. I don’t know why they didn’t come up with this years ago. She loves it.

“It was a fantastic way for her to spend her birthday.”

Charlotte herself added: “I liked it. I didn’t always win though.”

The U’s yesterday revealed a special shirt they will wear to raise thousands for Charlotte and SpecialEffect.

For their home game against Rotherham United, on March 17, their shirts will bear the charity’s logo and an embroidered message saying “United 4 Charlotte”.

The shirts from each player will then be auctioned off, with all money being split between the Charlotte Fund – which raises money to help Charlotte with specially-adapted items – and SpecialEffect.

Club chairman Kelvin Thomas said: “We have all been so touched by Charlotte’s story. This is the ideal way to bring her story to a wider audience and to highlight the fantastic work that SpecialEffect do.

“The auction will allow supporters to own a genuine worn match shirt, which is a real collectors’ item. But, more importantly, it will allow us to raise a substantial amount of money to help youngsters, and one special little girl who is part of our Oxford United family.”

Full details on how to bid for a shirt will be released nearer the time.

rpope@oxfordmail.co.uk