Amateur English American football club receive shock message from Super Bowl legend in Cash4Clubs scheme

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Swindon Storm, an English amateur American football club, received a massive shock during their Super Bowl Sunday, as they received a message from former NFL superstar Rob Gronkowski, in partnership with Flutter Entertainment. 

The news was broken to them at half-time of the game, as they found out that they were the first club to receive a £2,000 grant from the Cash4Clubs scheme. 

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Storm are the first club to receive the grant, in a programme funded by Flutter, which is designed to help and support UK-based grassroots sports clubs and keep adults engaged with sports. 

The £2,000 received is a part of a wider £400,000 that will go around 200 different teams across all sports, and provide a much-needed boost for sports clubs. 

Members of Swindon Storm had gathered at sports bar Route 66 to watch the Philadelphia Eagles triumph against the Kansas City Chiefs, when their broadcast was interrupted. 

Rather than this being a technical glitch, they were then met by a video of four-time Super Bowl champion Gronkowski, who delivered them the special message. 

“Hi Swindon! Rob Gronkowski here,” he said. “Sorry to interrupt your Super Bowl Sunday, but I have a special message for everyone at Swindon Storm watching from Route 66 tonight.” 

“One of your coaches, Andy Wilson, applied for a Cash4Clubs grant funded by Flutter. They heard about all the great work you guys are doing to grow American football in the UK and keep adults involved in sport. 

“So here I am, on the biggest screen in Swindon, to tell you that your club is the first of 200 clubs across the UK and Ireland to be awarded a Cash4Clubs grant this year. Best of luck in the BAFA league. And remember: You are the Storm! Enjoy the big game tonight.” 

Swindon Storm head coach Andy Wilson, who was in attendance, has described the grant as ‘transformational’ to the club, as the money will help them fund new pads and protective gear for any new members. 

He added: “The team was floored when Gronk appeared onscreen. The whole place went crazy! We are so grateful to Flutter and Sported for this grant, but having Gronk deliver the news during the Super Bowl was just incredible. We’re so grateful to Route 66 for hosting us and making it a night to remember.  

“In the simplest terms, this grant means that if new people want to give American football a go, they can without the added financial pressure of needing to buy the equipment needed to play the sport. This funding could be transformational for our club and our membership, not to mention the lives of the new members we hope to welcome as a result.” 

Since it’s inauguration nearly 20 years ago, Cash4Clubs has seen Flutter hand out over £6.5m into grassroots clubs across the UK and Ireland. 

A Flutter UK&I spokesperson stated: “We all know the power of sports and we genuinely believe Cash4Clubs can help small clubs play an even bigger role in their community. It was great to have ‘Gronk’ deliver the news of this year’s first award to the Swindon Storm – and we hope they can replicate his success on the playing field.”