Footie fanatics tour stadiums
Four Shropshire football fanatics have lived their dream by touring all 92 league football grounds and the new Wembley Stadium to raise thousands of pounds for charity.
The group of friends - Nick Benbow, 28, 25-year-old Ryan Jones, and Richard Hendy, 29, all from Newport and 29-year-old Paul Thomason, from Edgmond - left home on March 17 to make their first stop at Wrexham Football Club.
After touring the length and breadth of the country, they reached their final stop at Shrewsbury Town on Friday.
The group has raised money for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) after Paul's father, Mick, died from a heart attack last year. Just two weeks later Nick's father also had a heart attack, but fortunately survived.
After covering more than 2,600 miles, with 14 nights in bed and breakfast accommodation, the men were glad to be home, but said they had a "fantastic" time.
Nick said: "We went to all the 92 league football grounds, so that included all of the Premiership, Championship and League One and Two grounds.
"We travelled around in a car, stopping at B&Bs on the way. We had tickets to the first game at the new Wembley. It was brilliant.
"We've been doing an average of six to seven football clubs a day, but some clubs were quite far apart."
The group travelled as far north as Carlisle, over to Boston and then as far south as Southampton and all of the men got to see their favourite club, with Ryan supporting Tottenham, Nick and Richard Manchester United fans, while Paul was glad to arrive home to his club, Shrewsbury Town.
Nick said: "It's been exciting but tiring. Something we've always wanted to do, so we are glad we've done it.
"We are hoping to raise about £5,000 and are definitely on target."
To sponsor the group contact Warren Appleby at BHF on (0121) 5809799.
By Kirsty Marston
