YOUNG football players have collectively run over 2,300 miles in less than a month to raise money for their club.
Future of Football (FOF) FC players, alongside FOF coaches, managers and committee members, ran a total of 2,306.6 miles – the distance between FOF FC’s base at the Bowerhill Sports Field and all 91 stadiums in the Football League
The effort has raised nearly £3,500, which will help the club cover income lost during the national lockdown.
“FOF FC, just like all other football clubs in the country have been affected by the lockdown,” said the club. “Due to not being able to play matches, we have not been able to raise money through selling teas and coffees etc on match days. As a result of this we have missed out on some valuable income to help support the kids playing.”
The fundraising challenge was the idea of FOF FC president, Luke Ballinger, who wanted to get players engaged and warmed up before training resumed last month.
“The kids had been in shut in for so long, and we were getting ready to return to training,” said Luke speaking to Melksham News. “ So it was a case of getting them active and doing something in preparation for coming back – bringing the club together during lockdown and raising some money for the club.
“The kids really jumped on board with the challenge and it just went from strength to strength – I didn’t expect us to do so well. For the challenge it roughly worked out that each player had to run 25 miles – three kids ran over 100 miles in the 27 days, which is phenomenal!
“The kids can’t believe how much we have raised – it’s a brilliant, fantastic amount. We’ll put some ideas to the kids to see how they want to spend the money, put back in what they want, and see what they come up with too, it is their club after all. We’ll probably use the money to get more equipment, and maybe take the players on a trip.”
To support the fundraiser and donate, visit the website: www.justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/fof-fc
FOF FC returned to training last month after lockdown restrictions were eased. For more information about the club, which welcomes boys and girls of all abilities, aged five and over, visit the website: www.futureoffootball.co.uk/fof-fc
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