United concern for youth football - and other marathon efforts
Updated 08:25, Wednesday, 21 April
Wednesday sees the start of a 410-mile Walk for Change campaign by former Football League clubs like Wrexham FC concerned about funding youth football development.
When clubs lose Football League status they lose half their development funding [about £100k for Wrexham], something which concerns Wrexham manager Dean Saunders and Jez George, [@walkforchange] Cambridge United's director of football, who is leading the marathon walk over 19 days from Wrexham to Wembley via numerous Conference football clubs.
Sky Sports' Soccer Am presenter Max Rushden [@maxrushden] is also walking the first 20-mile leg today to help raise publicity for the campaign which includes a 700+ name petition.
Jez and co head out from Wrexham en route to Crewe - where Dean's son plays for a youth development team - and hopes to arrive before 4pm. You can follow his route via Google Maps.
Meanwhile, Hawarden's homegrown footballing star, former Wales captain Gary Speed, is running the London Marathon [25 April] for The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation in memory of his former boss.
Among others on the start line will be Wrexham dental surgeon Adrian Thorp and Chris Speed from Connah's Quay, who's running in memory of Wepre Rangers goalkeeper David Gellett who died as he was warming up for a football match.
And spare a thought next week for nine friends from Wrexham who decided they needed a challenge and, after a year of training in the saddle, embark on a six-day 600 mile Tour de Cymru to raise cash for separate causes close to their hearts.
