ALAN SHEARER wowed a local grassroots football team with a heartfelt gesture.
The legendary Newcastle and forward is one of the North East’s biggest sporting heroes.
Alan Shearer surprised a local football team with a video revealing they had received a game-changing grant Credit: PA
The Newcastle icon will also sponsor the kit through his foundation Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk
So it was extra special when he got on camera to announce to local amateur side the Newcastle Panthers that they had won a £2,000 grant.
The Panthers, the first LGBTQ+ friendly football team in the North East, were the lucky recipients of the funds as part of Flutter’s Cash4Clubs scheme.
And what a way to find out the news, with Shearer trading while covering the World Cup in the US for his own as he sent the team a special message.
He said: “Newcastle Panthers FC, I am absolutely delighted to reveal that you are one of 250 grassroots sports clubs to receive a Cash4Clubs grant this year.
“The award recognises the incredible work you are doing, bringing people together, keeping adults active, and helping grassroots football thrive.”
The funding is targeted towards providing sporting opportunities to all, including those in deprived areas, marginalised groups and to clubs aimed at making sport accessible for those with disabilities.
The Panthers’ club secretary Joel Greenwell said: “We are the only friendly football team for LGBT people in the North East. So, we really do provide that kind of hub and safe space for people to come along and be themselves.
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“Our club also provides a really excellent social opportunity for often quite people who can sometimes feel a bit isolated or a bit excluded and it brings together like-minded people a really good group of friends.
“The Cash4Club’s funding is really exciting for us and we’re so grateful. It really does go such a long way to making our club what it is today.”
But the good news didn’t stop there for the outfit, with Shearer going on to reveal that the team will also be receiving a new kit featuring the logo of his own charity.
The Foundation is dedicated to helping those with disabilities through the Alan Shearer Centre in Newcastle.
The pundit continued: “I’m gutted I can’t be there in person. But I’m delighted to tell you that, in addition to your grant, Flutter have bought you a new kit – and they’ve donated the sponsorship of it to The Alan Shearer Foundation.
“You’ll play with that logo on your strip, raising awareness of the work we do in helping profoundly disabled children and adults in our area. I hope you’ll wear it with Pride.”
The Panthers added on their social media that: “We’re still not over the fact Alan Shearer knows who the Newcastle Panthers are.
“We couldn’t be prouder to have this amazing charity on the front of our training tops and kit. We will wear it with pride all season.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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