RARE Oxford United shirts have raised almost £2,500 in an auction for the Oxford Children’s Hospital.

For the last home game of the season the U’s played in special shirts with the Oxford Children’s Hospital logo.

The Football League only allows clubs to replace their sponsor’s emblem with that of their chosen charity for one match each season.

The signed shirts were then auctioned off after Saturday’s game against Lincoln City in a bid to raise money and awareness for the hospital, on the John Radcliffe site.

Striker James Constable’s shirt had the most bids with £300, followed by goalkeeper Ryan Clarke, with £175, and defender Damian Batt and striker Steve MacLean with £100 each.

Children’s hospital fundraiser Penny Hambridge said: “The money will allow us to buy additional medical equipment and better facilities for the children we care for here.”

Last November, United raised more than £2,050 for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal by selling the first team’s shirts featuring a poppy on the chest.