A group of charity minded footballers have fallen foul of Facebook’s no nudity clause after one member tried to advertise a ‘Calendar Girls’ style calendar with a cheeky picture.

Justin Cross, who set up Gorefield-based Macmillan FC to raise money for the cancer charity, tried to promote the calendar which features artfully shot pictures of seven of the players in the ‘all together’ on the social media site - only to get a red card for his efforts.

Within hours of the photo of himself naked and pushing a line marker across the pitch was posted on the site on Sunday night it had been reported and removed.

“I thought I would put the picture up to try to get a bit of early publicity as the calendar is currently at the printers. I put it up late on Sunday night and when I got up a few hours later on Monday morning it had been removed.

“I couldn’t believe it. Someone has reported it and the picture was removed because of Facebook’s nudity clause. It was only a shot of my back view, I didn’t think it was too offensive,” said Justin, 40, who set the football team up after his dad, John Cross, was diagnosed with cancer in 2013.

“We got so much help from Macmillan Cancer Support we just wanted to give something back. Dad was diagnosed in 2013 and I set up the football club in January 2014. Last year we raised £5,500 and we are on target to raise around £8,000 this year,” he said.

The team raises cash through match day subs as well as numerous fundraising events including a psychic night and now the calendar.

“It is quite unbelievable that someone has taken the trouble to report a charity fundraiser. Hopefully we will still sell plenty of the calendars. It is just a bit of a laugh, we are a family orientated club and try to do something for everyone and we certainly wouldn’t do anything distasteful,” said Justin, who said his mum Carol had nearly choked on her cup of tea laughing when he told of his latest fundraising plans.

“She couldn’t stop laughing and had to rush off to tell dad,” said Justin, who added wife Kerry and daughter Kerri, 15, have both been really supportive of his efforts and posted comments on Facebook about the calendar post being deleted.

The calendar will go on sale shortly priced £10 and can be obtained via the Macmillan FC Facebook page.