Wheatus to sponsor Nunnery Wood U13s Phoenix with 'Teenage Dirtbag' logo
On 20 October 2026 Nunnery Wood U13s Phoenix, a Worcester-based under-13 side, announced US rock band Wheatus as their new shirt sponsor, with the team's kits now carrying the Teenage Dirtbag band's logo.
The sponsorship followed a friendship between the club's coach, Graham, and members of Wheatus that began after Graham and his son Bertie met the band at a gig in Gloucester and stayed in touch. Graham said: "I thought Wheatus' logo would look amazing on a football shirt," adding: "I cheekily asked if they fancied sponsoring the team, and they said yes." Graham has been a fan since the band's self-titled debut album was released in 2000 and he won tickets to meet the sextet at Gloucester Guildhall in 2023.
After the meet-and-greet, Graham remained in contact with the band's bassist Matthew because they had, he said, "lots in common". The band accommodated a late change in 2023 that allowed nine-year-old Bertie to meet them after he was initially too young to attend the gig.
Wheatus were formed in 1995 and achieved chart success in the UK, with their biggest hit topping the UK charts in 2000 and their second single, a cover of Erasure's A Little Respect, reaching number three. Frontman Brendan B Brown said agreeing to sponsor the side required little thought: "We have fans who are no longer fans, they're more like family members, and Graham is one of those guys," he said. "Graham and Bertie are part of that family."
Brown said the band wanted to help remove financial barriers to youth sport: "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," he said. "We weren't always in a position to donate funds to anything - lately that's changed." He also commented that the new kits looked "rad and totally awesome".
The frontman suggested a performance could follow on-field success, saying: "If they really do very well, they do deserve at least an acoustic performance in the locker room," and adding: "Wouldn't that be appropriate, that they get a private show?" Bertie said it would be "really cool" if Wheatus were ever able to perform for the team.
The sponsorship gives Nunnery Wood U13s Phoenix new kit backing from Wheatus and carries the prospect of a private acoustic performance as a potential reward should the players "do very well," according to Brendan B Brown.