AN NFL legend made a shock Super Bowl appearance at a watch-along party for a UK grass roots club.

Four-time Super Bowl champ Rob ‘Gronk’ Gronkowski surprised amateur American football club, Swindon Storm, with a personal message directly to members.

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Live coverage of the Philadelphia Eagles’ thumping win over the Kansas City Chiefs was interrupted when Gronk had a special surprise for the club.

Gathering at a local sports bar, they received ‘game-changing’ news from the legendary Tight End that they were the first of 200 UK and Ireland clubs set to receive a share of a £400,000 Cash4Clubs grant.

As part of Flutter’s Cash4Clubs programme, each year they award 200 grants worth £2,000 each, with a focus on supporting clubs in deprived areas and aiming to keep adults engaged with sport.

Appearing on-screen, Gronk told the fans that gathered: “Hi Swindon! Rob Gronkowski here. 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.”

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The team have been running since 2009 and compete in the BAFA Division 2, SFC West.

And aforementioned coach, Andy Wilson, described the award as “transformational”, with the grant going towards protective gear and pads for new players.

He said: “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.”

A Flutter UKI spokesperson said: “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!”

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