A North East junior team will be kitted-out for success, depending on how well its supporters feel they deserve it.

Sunderland AFC and their kit sponsors Nike, have launched a competition which will see a local U-16 team being rewarded with a new outfit for the coming season.

All it takes for a local league or school team to qualify is for someone to nominate them, stating in 50 words or less, why they believe the team deserve to win a full new set of SAFC strips.

Sunderland chief executive John Fickling said: "We are already much involved in working with young people in the community and this is a further example of our determination to encourage football development at this level".

Nike and Sunderland hope that by linking up with them to promote the competition they will help to establish lifelong enthusiasm for football and maybe even help generate future star players.

The competition follows on from this summer's launch of a four-year kit sponsorship between Sunderland and Nike.

The deadline for nominations is August 3 and they should be sent, strictly 50 words or less, to Nike Junior Football Competition, Sunderland AFC, Sunderland Stadium of Light, Sunderland, SR5 1SU.