A FORMER Commonwealth Games medalist is set to head up Swindon’s newest American football team.

Kelly Morgan, who claimed bronze in the javelin at the 2002 games in Manchester, is leading Swindon Storm’s new ladies Flag Football team which gets started in a little under two weeks.

Training begins on Saturday, July 19, at Swindon RFC and will be used to build towards a final tournament on August 23.

Morgan is a regional director for Sports Xtra, a sports coaching company which works in schools across the country, and is excited to be getting started with Storm.

“I have always wanted to play American Football since school age but never had the opportunity,” she said.

“My business is to engage and develop the physical abilities of Swindon's primary school children. I am thrilled to be able to offer Flag Football with it's wide spectrum of skills and physical challenge to Swindon's schools in the ongoing pursuit for increased fitness, enjoyment and inspiration via sport and physical activities.”

Storm chairman Steve Bennett is glad to have Morgan involved in the new team, after she progressed through a coaching course recently run by the club.

“The flag leader's award is a perfect tool for us to engage experienced sports coaches and athletes to develop the sport at the grass roots level,” he said.

“We'll be working with Kelly to help her both develop as a player in our new women's flag team and as a coach for her company.”

The free training sessions begin at 10.30am and run until midday, with the final tournament costing just £10.

Storm are also holding a crash course for new players looking to get into the contact version of the sport this weekend.

All equipment is supplied for the event on the Stanley Park 3G pitch in Chippenham, which runs from 10.30am to 3.30pm and costs £20.

The following day a scrimmage game is being held at the same venue to enable the new players to put everything they have learnt into action.

The club’s men’s team are next in action on July 20 when they host Solent.

For more information on all the club’s events, log on to www.swindonstorm.org.uk.