There’s more to cheerleading than pom-poms and skimpy outfits

As Britain’s first NFL cheerleader Holly Warden prepares to support her team the Miami Dolphins next month at Wembley, she tells PETER SHERIDAN…

lot and we have had a lot of tests and books to study.”

Holly works constantly to stay in shape. The cheerleaders’ training routine includes five laps of the football field, sprints, crawling on hands and feet, high-kicks, dance routines, and 150 sit-ups. She says: “It is incredibly tough. Practice normally lasts three hours and we do it three or four times a week.

“Before boot camp we have to run two miles in under 18 minutes after circuit training with pressups and sit-ups, sprints and agility tests. If you can’t do the fitness tests you won’t be able to get through a game.”

American football is a £7.75billion annual industry but cheerleader pay is shockingly low with many lucky to earn £7.50 per hour. While American football player salaries start at £300,000 some cheerleaders have sued just to receive the legal minimum wage. They have to pay to clean their own uniforms and are benched if they gain weight.

Holly supplements her income with lucrative private and corporate appearances with the cheerleaders. “I love being out in the community, meeting different people,” she says. “I used to be shy but being a cheerleader has given me more confidence. I have learned that I can push myself a lot harder than I thought possible.

“I hope to stay with the Dolphins for a while because I am really enjoying it and if we could get to the Super Bowl that would be a dream come true. After that I will just continue my career in dance.

“I am proud to be the first English cheerleader in the NFL. I have never been to Wembley Stadium so that will be really special.

“And I hope to inspire others. It has taken me a long time to get here but if you have a dream just keep going and hopefully it will come true for you as well.”