The Fox and Hounds, who play in Division Four of the Sunday Combination, aim to reach their target amount by the end of the month by wearing the brightly coloured strip.

And it has already led to some interesting comments from opposing teams.

Spencer Lyman, team secretary, said: "We have had some mickey taking because we do stand out quite a bit. It is something a bit different; you do not see many other teams playing in that colour.

"We wanted to raise money because everybody knows someone who has suffered from cancer. If it goes well, we may be able to step it up a level and get other teams who are part of the McManus pub chain to play in pink."

Mr Lyman said the idea for raising money for breast cancer came about during pre-season, when the committee was looking for a kit for the new campaign.

He said: "We were looking though a catalogue with different colours and then we saw the pink kit and we all commented on it.

"The wife of one of the members of the committee had breast cancer and he said that colour was associated with it, so we went from there."

The Northampton pub is now fully registered with Breakthrough Breast Cancer and follows in the footsteps of other sports teams around the country, including Middlesex Cricket Club, who have worn a pink kit to raise money for the charity.