THE Chester Romans American football team have been named as a new community cause for the British retailer, Co-op.

Each year, every Co-op store in the country chooses three local charitable causes for their members to choose to donate to.

And already in 2019, Co-op members have raised around £17 million for over 4,000 chosen causes around the UK with the Chester Romans American football team now one of those.

It is hoped that the support over the year will help the Romans to build upon the foundation they have set which includes a Flintshire flag football club for 8-12-year-olds that was formed soon after the team helped guide Ysgol Gwynedd to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London for the 2019 NFL National Flag Championships.

In the near future, the club – who are one of the UK’s oldest American football teams - are hoping to expand their popular flag football scheme to Wrexham, Cheshire, Denbighshire, and the Wirral.

Geraint Griffiths, General Manager of the Chester Romans, said: “It is a huge honour to be chosen as one of Co-op’s three local community good causes.

“I hope that it shows the positive impact that we’re trying to have on the community.

“Being chosen means so much to the club as it will help us to invest in new equipment for our youth and junior teams as their safety and enjoyment are of paramount importance to us.

“We are one of few teams in the North West that have a youth and junior representative sides, both of which reached the play-offs this season before losing their respective games.

“With this public support, we will also hopefully be able to invest in new training gear for the teams to help us take a step forward next year and compete with the bigger teams.”

Rebecca Birkbeck, Director of Community and Shared Value at the Co-op added: “The local community fund is now a well-established way of supporting local causes who help to make communities safer, happier, and healthier places to live.

“We’re delighted to be able to support such a wide range of local groups like the Chester Romans team as they help to improve wellbeing in Chester.

“By choosing their local cause online, our members are telling us what really matters in their communities, and we have used this information to help us identify new groups to support throughout next year.

“Feedback from our own Community Wellbeing Index – which highlights the areas where communities can benefit from support – has shown us that we should be focused on protecting and improving community spaces, helping people reach their full potential by developing their skills, and promoting health and wellbeing.”

When Co-op members shop at their local store, one percent of what they spend on selected Co-op branded products and services goes to support local causes through the Local Community Fund.

By joining the Co-op’s membership scheme, shoppers can contribute to the money raised for the causes and choose which one they wish to support.

To become a Co-op member and show your support to the Chester Romans or one of their other chosen community causes, visit www.coop.co.uk/membership.