AFC Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe showed his support for a Dorset hospice as Cherries made their Premier League bow on Saturday.

Alongside the famous Cherries logo on his chest sat another badge featuring a teddy bear inside a house.

The well-known design is the emblem for Julia's House children's hospice, the Corfe Mullen-based charity dedicated to helping life-limited children and their families across the county and in south Wiltshire.

In March this year, Howe pledged his support to the hospice after meeting staff during a private visit, and now acts as patron.

He lives locally with wife Vicky and young sons Harry and Rocky, and said he was keen to help through fundraising and raising the profile of Julia's House.

And, true to his word, as his team took on Aston Villa in their hotly-anticipated season opener, Howe proudly pinned the charity's badge to his chest to show his support.

The game was widely covered in both local and national media and was televised on Match of the Day, with BCC pundits praising the Cherries for their display, despite their eventual 1-0 loss.

Howe joined former Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp, film director Guy Ritchie and actors Debra Stephenson and Martin Clunes as patrons of Julia's House.

The charity is currently fundraising in order to build another hospice in Wiltshire.

A public appeal has been launched in the county in order to raise enough money to build the new hospice, which it is hoped will open within the next two or three years.

A spokesperson from Julia's House said: "It was fantastic to see our patron Eddie Howe proudly wearing his Julia’s House badge at Saturday’s AFC Bournemouth match.

"We would like to wish the very best of luck to Eddie and everybody at the club for their historic season in the Premier League. Up the Cherries!"

To donate to Julia's House, visit juliashouse.org/donate