Sheffield United FC will show its support for its official charity partner Sheffield Hospitals Charity with men's first-team player shirts embellished with the charity logo kick-starting the 75th Anniversary celebration for the NHS in Sheffield. 

SUFC's men's team will don their commemorative shirts at Saturday's Bramall Lane fixture against Swansea City. All players will sign their shirts worn to show support of the charity and the NHS across Sheffield Teaching Hospitals and will donate them to Sheffield Hospitals Charity to be auctioned, raising funds for projects and initiatives benefitting patients, families and staff across the hospitals. 

SUFC's women's team will also be taking part in the celebrations showing their support at Sunday's fixture against Charlton Athletic. To tie in with the United in Love theme, players will come out of the tunnel holding hands with their loved ones and will warm up in official charity shirts. 

A team of volunteers will be at the ground across the weekend collecting, special edition pin badges will be available to buy, and Blades fans will see Sheffield Hospitals Charity's first-ever mascot unveiled at the game. The mascot was created by 10-year-old, Isabelle Flemons who entered a competition to design a new mascot that will represent Sheffield Hospitals Charity for years to come. Isabelle and her family will get to see her creation 'Charikitty' for the first time. 

The charity is marking the 75th anniversary of the National Health Service founded in 1948 with a range of activities across the city this year. 

Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom said

“We visited Sheffield Teaching Hospitals with the players at Christmas and saw first hand the great work the hospitals and Sheffield Hospitals do. We are honoured to be able to show our support of such an important milestone and great cause within the city.”

Sam Earnshaw, Head of Corporate Partnerships and Major Giving at Sheffield Hospitals Charity has worked closely with Sheffield United FC to help raise awareness of the charity and their role to support Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. She said

“We are blown away by the support shown to us by Sheffield United FC and the fan base. We’ve got so much happening at Bramall Lane on 11th & 12th February and fans have been donating to see the name of a loved one appear in the matchday programme which is a really special initiative for us”

The signed shirts will be available for fans to bid on at matchwornshirts.com following Saturday’s game.