Huddersfield Town ace Adam Clayton could be sporting a blue and white beard for Saturday’s game against champions Leicester City.

The bearded wonder has pledged to dye his facial hair in Town’s colours if his fundraising total hits £1,000 this week.

Midfielder Clayton, 25, whose last-gasp winner at Yeovil on Easter Monday secured Town’s Championship future, has been growing whiskers since November.

Fans either love it or loathe it but Clayton announced in February that the beard was staying and would raise money for the Town Foundation, the club charity which provides breakfasts at schools across Kirklees.

So far the beard has raised almost £900 online and Clayton says that if the total reaches £1,000 by Saturday he will dye it for the game.

After that he plans to shave it off – with the charity set to benefit to the tune of around £3,000.

Clayton told the Examiner the beard didn’t come about through Movember, the charity month when men grow facial hair to raise funds and awareness for cancer.

“I just got a bit lazy,” he said. “I didn’t shave for a month and suddenly there was a beard!”

The macho face covering proved a hit with some and the Adam Clayton Beard Appreciation Society sprang up on Facebook.

Others, however, hated it – and that included Clayton’s long-suffering partner Amanda.

“I have just had it trimmed and tidied up but never had anything taken off the length,” said Clayton.

“Amanda doesn’t like it and hasn’t been near me for three months so I think it’s time for the beard to go. I need some attention from her!”

Three weeks ago Clayton’s beard became a talking point again when its ginger colour turned black.

“People were saying ‘has he dyed it?’ and, yes, I did. I was getting fed up of it and wanted to spice it up a bit. It looked a bit like a joke beard.”

Clayton said the credit for the fundraising idea should go to Mandy Taylor, the foundation’s fundraising officer and renowned charity worker. “I just went along with it,” he said.

When £1,000 is reached Clayton will chip in £500 while club chairman Dean Hoyle promises to match every £1 raised for the foundation. Clayton has a couple of pals who will add £200 so the total will comfortably top £3,000.

Clayton has booked into his hairdresser’s on Friday for the dye works and said: “I’ll leave it all to him. I’m sure he’s got a plan up his sleeve.”

After Saturday’s game at the John Smith’s Stadium the beard will be shaved off.

“I’ve had enough of it,” said Clayton. “I’ll never be clean-shaven, though. I’ll always have a bit of stubble.”

To donate go to www.justgiving.com/savethebeard