Advanced online technologies have allowed Lancaster University's American football team, the Lancaster Bombers, to benefit from a 21st century fundraising scheme.

The unique buy.at/ system enables small organisations with little or no technical expertise to join the online revolution and receive a significant cash boost.

Lancaster Bombers signed-up for their free personalised online webshop, which offers members access to a full range of high street stores and discounted goods.

The club promotes the simple, easy-to-remember web address for the shop, buy.at/Bombers, and every purchase earns commission for Lancaster Bombers.

Club Secretary, Gareth Naylor, said: "As soon as I saw buy.at/ I realised it was an opportunity I couldN'T miss.

Only a few regular purchases by members will result in a major increase in revenue for the club.

"Best of all, it is effortless.

We simply promote the scheme, with materials supplied by buy.at/, and every penny earned goes into new facilities for the members."

Perfiliate Technologies, who operate buy.at/, has already attracted a number of leading online merchants to the shop, including the Co-op, Blackwells, Welcome Holidays, CDWow and Travelselect, but are hoping to attract others to expand the range of goods on offer.

The Bombers were first formed at Lancaster in 1990, comprising primarily of players from the local senior team.

The next year Lancaster entered the BCAFL.

In their first three seasons, the Bombers made steady progress, appearing in two successive plate competitions.

In 1994-95, the Bombers achieved their first winning record and went 5-1 against teams in the Northern Conference Eastern Division.

They then won the Northern Conference plate competition.

That season, two-way lineman Dean Smith was honoured as the national lineman of the year.

The next season, Lancaster were led by halfback Spencer Fox, who was second in the BCAFL in scoring.

Despite a fast finish, they again just missed out on the playoffs.

In 1996-97, the Bombers went 7-1 to win their first divisional title.

In their first ever playoff game, they were defeated 12-6 by Glasgow.

The 1998-99 season saw a strong squad go 6-1-1 and make the playoffs for the second time in their history, only to lose to Loughborough 24-12 in a rescheduled mid-week fixture.

Last season the Bombers finished ninth in the Northern Conference, and have had several players receive international recognition.