A Lincoln football team set up in memory of a teammate who died from Leukaemia has received a donation from an unlikely source.
Adam Richman, known across both sides of the Atlantic as the larger than life presenter of the popular Man vs Food programme, has handed over £800 of his own funds to Broadley FC, a Sunday league football team created in September 2011 in honour of Richard Broadley.
Adam is now starring in the new ITV show BBQ Champ alongside Myleene Klass.
Richard died from Leukaemia aged 20 and the money donated to the club will keep his memory alive out on the pitch.
However, with pitch fees for their third season costing £400 alone, founder Matt Newton contacted Richman on the off chance that he would be willing to help.
Club manager Matt Newton said: “I messaged Adam on Facebook in hope more than anything, asking for a donation to keep our club up and running.
“He responded really quickly saying he would love to help out and was delighted we had reached out to him.
“For a high profile celebrity such as Adam to sponsor our team is massive. To bring leukaemia and lymphoma awareness to the forefront of people’s minds is something that we are very pleased about.
“Adam really is a true gent. He really believes in our cause and we can not thank him enough for what he has done.”
In addition to covering the pitch fees for this season, Richman has bought personalised jackets for the squad and shirts with the logo of his production company on it.
He has also offered to appear for the side at some point in the season, to raise additional funds for Leukaemia and lymphoma charities.
Richman added: “My cousin is a survivor of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. It is a deep honour to even be asked to sponsor a team with such a great mission and such beautiful respect behind its origin.”
@BroadleyFC It is a deep honor to even be asked to sponsor a team with such a great mission & such beautiful respect behind its origin.
— Adam Richman (@AdamRichman) July 31, 2015
Since Richman’s generous donation, Bishop Grosseteste University have also offered sponsorship to the club to fund their new kits.