KIND-hearted club regulars would give the shirts off their own backs for charity.

But one shirt in particular keeps coming back.

Members of Eston and Normanby Workingmen's Club cannot get rid of it for love nor money. The top, signed by Middlesbrough Football Club's first team, would be a coveted trophy in any home in soccer-mad Teesside.

But the community which gave birth to a soccer legend has yet to see the back of the shirt.

It has been raffled twice and auctioned three times, all to raise funds for the Zoe's Place baby hospice planned for a former convent, across the road from the club at Eston.

It is just streets away from where the late Wilf Mannion, who represented England 26 times, first learned to kick a ball.

The shirt has scored for the hospice appeal, so far raising a staggering £1,400. But its winners keep handing it back for more fundraising.

Committee member Bernie Kelly said: "I think it's brilliant. I was getting emotional when the shirt kept coming back and it seems as though everybody else was too. We never thought we would make as much money.

"We expected the shirt would go to the person who won it, but it just kept coming back. It is really fantastic.''

The club held a benefit night for the same charity on Wednesday when they expected to make more money for the charity.

As for the shirt, it has been framed and will have pride of place behind the bar of the club. It's going nowhere.