Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has surprised the North East's only LGBTQIA+ friendly football team with a special announcement. The 55-year-old former striker informed Newcastle Panthers Football Club that they have been selected for a £2,000 grant and will receive a new kit sponsored by his charity, the Alan Shearer Foundation.
The amateur club, which trains in Blakelaw, Newcastle, is one of 250 community clubs across the UK and Ireland to receive a grassroots grant from the Cash4Clubs programme – a £500,000 scheme funded by Flutter.
Video message from Shearer
In a video message recorded for the club, Shearer said: "Newcastle Panthers FC, I'm absolutely delighted to reveal that you are one of 250 grassroots sports clubs to receive a Cash4Clubs grant this year. This initiative is part of a £500,000 contribution by Flutter into grassroots sport. The award recognises the incredible work you’re doing: bringing people together, keeping adults active, and helping grassroots football thrive."
He added: "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 - meaning 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."
Club's reaction
Joel Greenwell, club secretary at Newcastle Panthers, said: "We are the only friendly football team for LGBT people in the Northeast. So, we really do provide that kind of hub and safe space for people to come along and be themselves. Our club also provides a really excellent social opportunity for often quiet 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."
Greenwell added: "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."
Cash4Clubs programme
Since its launch nearly 20 years ago, Cash4Clubs has invested more than £7 million into grassroots and community sport. Their aim is to drive participation, improve facilities and help clubs and charities purchase equipment. Across the 2025-2026 programme, a record 250 neighbourhood sports and fitness clubs across the UK and Ireland have picked up Cash4Clubs grants to fund coaching, marketing and the purchase of new equipment. Almost 1,500 community organisations and charities bid for grants in the programme.
The grants will support over 40 different sports, from football to yoga, bowls and swimming. Other winners include a Roller Derby club in Scotland, a Walking Netball team in Manchester and a boxing class in Derby. Nearly half of those receiving a grant this year are based in some of the most deprived parts of the UK and Ireland. Nearly six in ten of the grants will support clubs delivering activities to people experiencing mental health challenges.
