ASTON Villa’s youth teams and young fans will proudly display an Acorns Children’s Hospice logo on their shirts during the forthcoming season.

Young players and fans of the Premier League club will be wearing home and away strips with ‘Acorns 25’ emblazoned on the front as part of the charity’s 25th anniversary celebrations.

League regulations mean the junior kits cannot feature the club’s new sponsor, online betting company Dafabet but a deal was struck to carry on the long-standing association between the pair.

Acorns’ chief executive, David Strudley, said: “The ongoing support shown by the club and fans for Acorns is immeasurable and clearly demonstrated by their efforts to include us in their discussions with Dafabet.

“We are extremely grateful to both Aston Villa and Dafabet in what is a crucial year as we celebrate 25 years of caring and look to a future where we can help to provide care and support to each of the 2,000 plus life-limited and life-threatened children in the region.”

The hospice, which runs Acorns for the Three Counties in Bath Road, Worcester, has been the club’s official charity partner since 2006.

Acorns provides specialist care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for life limited and life threatened children and young people, and their families.

They currently supporting around 640 children and nearly 900 families, including those who are bereaved.