In an extraordinary grassroots football partnership, Worcestershire youth side Nunnery Wood U13s Phoenix have secured US rock band Wheatus as their new official kit sponsor. The Worcester-based squad now step onto the pitch bearing the logo of the American group, celebrated for their 2000 UK chart-topping hit Teenage Dirtbag, after team coach Graham reached out with an ambitious proposal.
The unique connection was sparked during a 2023 concert at Gloucester Guildhall, where Graham and his son Bertie met the New York sextet. Graham, who has followed the group since their self-titled 2000 debut album, had won meet-and-greet tickets but found Bertie was too young to attend. After the band stepped in to ensure the then nine-year-old could meet his musical heroes, Graham maintained contact with Wheatus bassist Matthew. "I thought Wheatus' logo would look amazing on a football shirt," Graham revealed. "I cheekily asked if they fancied sponsoring the team, and they said yes."
For Wheatus frontman Brendan B Brown, the decision to back the junior side required very little deliberation. The band, originally formed in 1995 and known also for their number-three cover of Erasure's A Little Respect, view their loyal supporters as extended relatives. "We have fans who are no longer fans, they're more like family members, and Graham is one of those guys," Brown noted. He highlighted that funding the shirts helps dismantle financial barriers in sport, explaining: "Just knowing that a little bit of funding is out there making it possible for a bunch of kids to get on the pitch, that's really enough for me."
Brown hailed the finished Phoenix kits as "rad and totally awesome" and has even dangled a unique musical incentive for the players going forward. Suggesting that on-pitch success could be rewarded with a private acoustic locker room gig, Brown asked: "Wouldn't that be appropriate, that they get a private show?" While Bertie admitted having Wheatus play for the team would be "really cool," the potential concert gives the Worcester youngsters plenty to aim for as they represent their rock-star backers.