Singer Jake Bugg sponsors youth football teams

Jake Bugg took selfies with players when he visited the club earlier in October

Singer-songwriter Jake Bugg has become the shirt sponsor for two youth football teams in Nottingham, despite once playing for a rival club.

Clifton All Whites FC secured the backing of the Lightning Bolt singer after his cousins, who have children on the teams, asked if he would consider sponsorship.

"It was just a no-brainer for me, to be honest," said Bugg, who is originally from Clifton, during a visit to meet the players on 2 October. "It's just great to see the kids having fun."

Bugg, who used to play for Southchurch Colts, has sponsored home and away kits for an under-10s team and an under-12s team.

He said it was "important" for him to be part of community initiatives.

"They do so much for society in general all up and down the whole country and I think it's incredibly important to try and help out in any way you can," added Bugg, who was once a shirt sponsor for Notts County.

The singer has sponsored home and away kits for both teams

Speaking about his time as a striker and winger for Southchurch Colts, Bugg said: "Football was a huge part of my life when I was a kid, and still is in many ways.

"I have some great memories of playing when I was younger. I actually used to play for the rival team of this club up the road."

Kayden, 10, who plays for the under-12s team sponsored by Bugg, said: "It was just amazing to see that someone who grew up in Clifton sponsored our team, knowing that there's multiple teams playing."

He added: "At first, we didn't think it was real."

'A massive help'

The club was founded in 1963 and currently has two senior men's teams and 29 youth and junior teams.

It has produced footballers who have gone on to play professionally, including former Nottingham Forest player Garry Birtles.

Martyn Johnson, lead coach for the Clifton All Whites under-10s (Purple) team, said sponsorship helped lower some of the "expensive" costs faced by grassroots clubs.

"The club as a whole has to maintain pitches. There's pitch fees, for example, and buying equipment," he said.

"So, to have a sponsorship come along, like Jake, who has kindly offered to get us two sets of kits, that's a massive help for us.

"What that also helps us to do as a team is to not pass that extra cost on to parents."

Mr Johnson added: "Having someone like Jake on board to help us out is a massive influence on the kids, I think.

"If they look at what Jake's done for his career and where he's come from, it's the same as all these lads that are playing for this team now.

"For him to choose us as a team, and to help us the way he has done, it's a proud moment."