Stormzy delights fans as he attends first AFC Croydon match after buying club

07 August 2023 , 12:48

1047     0

Stormzy is seemingly loving life as a football club owner

Music legend Stormzy is seemingly already on his way to becoming a sporting icon too, thanks to the award-winning rapper being mobbed by fans as he attended AFC Croydon's F.A Cup clash over the weekend. The Vossi Bop hitmaker, 30, co-owns the non-league side with former footballer Wilfried Zaha.

Stormzy was treated to a raucous reception as fans gathered to catch a glimpse of the new co-owner of AFC Croydon arriving to watch his team take on Sutton Athletic in the extra preliminary round of the English domestic competition. Match goers were also able to nab a programme adorned with co-owner's Stormzy and Zaha's faces on it prior to kick off.

Dressed in a casual black ensemble, Stormzy will have no doubt been pleased with his business purchase on Saturday, as The Rams secured victory in order to progress to the next round of the F.A Cup. The grime icon kept fans updated on his team's performance on his Instagram Stories throughout the game.

Stormzy and Zaha followed in the footsteps of Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney earlier this year as they became the latest celebrities to purchase a football club, snapping up AFC Croydon Athletic. The two stars both grew up around the corner from the club’s 3,000 capacity (300 seats) Mayfield Stadium in Thornton Heath and made the decision to invest in the club in order to "do what’s right for the local community".

Stormzy presents Oshane Brown, the AFC Croydon Goalkeeper with the Man of the Match Award

In a statement shared on AFC Croydon Athletic's website in June, it was confirmed contracts had been exchanged with the existing ownership and the consortium - consisting of Stormzy, Zaha and Danny Young - "will own, operate and develop their childhood hometown football club".

Maya Jama's ex-fiancé 'moves on with Hollywood actress' and wants $1m ring back

The update added: "Whilst completion is subject to legislative and governance procedures, the three consortium members are excited about developing a community asset in the borough that gave them their own opportunities. They hope to take the entire community on this exciting journey with them."

Stormzy was a proud owner as he shared snaps from the ground on his Instagram Stories (@stormzy/Instagram)

The rapper's arrival has been well received by AFC Croydon fans (@stormzy/Instagram)

Stormzy will be hoping to emulate the success of actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who bought Wrexham AFC for £2million in November 2020, following a poll among the club’s 2,000 Supporters’ Trust members who voted overwhelmingly in favour of the two Hollywood stars becoming owners of their club.

Wrexham secured promotion back into the Football League earlier this year, with Ryan and Rob there to witness the club's achievement after 15-years away from the league in April. "I’m not sure I can actually process what happened tonight, I’m still a little speechless," Ryan told reporters after the game. "One thing that’s running through my head over and over again was at the beginning, people said ‘Why Wrexham, why Wrexham’; this is exactly why Wrexham, what’s happening right now, is why."

Zoe Delaney