A nine-year-old rugby fan is auctioning a T-shirt signed by the England team to raise money for a children's Armed Forces charity.

Eastern Daily Press: The shirt, signed by the England rugby squad, will be auctioned online by Scottys Little Soldiers. Picture: Courtesy of Scotty's Little SoldiersThe shirt, signed by the England rugby squad, will be auctioned online by Scottys Little Soldiers. Picture: Courtesy of Scotty's Little Soldiers (Image: Courtesy of Scotty's Little Soldiers)

Roan Taylor has been a member of King's Lynn-based charity Scotty's Little Soldiers for two years, following the death of his father, Sergeant Luke Taylor, in March 2012.

He wanted to help raise money for the charity while also making his dad proud, and so he wrote to the England rugby team asking if they could send him a shirt to auction.

Roan's mum, Nicola, from Christchurch in Dorset, said: 'Rugby means the world to Roan, and for him it's a way of making his dad proud.

'Luke played in the Royal Marines, in our local club Oakmediens and in the Army and Navy games, he also has a cup named after him.

Eastern Daily Press: The shirt, signed by the England rugby squad, will be auctioned online by Scottys Little Soldiers. Picture: Courtesy of Scotty's Little SoldiersThe shirt, signed by the England rugby squad, will be auctioned online by Scottys Little Soldiers. Picture: Courtesy of Scotty's Little Soldiers (Image: Courtesy of Scotty's Little Soldiers)

'So, in his letter, Roan told them about how he hoped to make his dad proud by playing rugby and by winning the cup that has his dad's name on it.

'He also told them how Scotty's has helped him and other children who have parents in heaven.

'I'm so proud of him for writing the letter with no help and for wanting to donate something I know he would cherish. He loves Scotty's and would do anything to help other children who have gone through what he's gone through.'

The shirt, signed by the England squad, will be auctioned online by Scotty's Little Soldiers to help raise much needed funds to enable them to continue to deliver the vital support to bereaved armed forces children.

Army wife Nikki Scott set up Scotty's Little Soldiers in her husband's name, Corporal Lee Scott, after he was killed in Afghanistan in 2009, leaving behind their two small children.

The charity supports more than 300 children across the UK who have lost a parent in the British Armed Forces.

Ms Scott said: 'We can't thank Roan enough for donating his shirt to Scotty's, it means so much to me and everyone at the charity when members show their support.

'I know how important rugby is to Roan, so to donate such a treasured possession is extremely gracious.'

For more information on the auction visit: www.scottyslittlesoldiers.co.uk/charityauction.