TWO football fans from Clitheroe will undertake a 3,000-mile charity car dash to visit all of the 92 clubs in the Football League.

Ian Townson, 28, and Damien Hart, 23, both of Bolland Prospect, will scoot across England and Wales in a hire car visiting every football club in the country in less than a week.

They hope to raise thousands of pounds from the sponsored trek for their favourite team, Clitheroe FC, and children's hospice Derian House.

They have written to each club requesting a piece of soccer memorabilia, which they will bring back to Clitheroe for a grand auction.

Ian said: "We have written to each club and have so far received several replies. Our aim is to raise cash from sponsorship and further funds from the auction.

"Driving nearly 3,000 miles in seven days will be a difficult task and we intend taking a photograph of ourselves outside each club with a huge Clitheroe FC flag just to prove we have done it.

"As we are both football enthusiasts, we thought this was a novel way of raising money and we have a great incentive in two worthwhile causes.

"Derian House receives minimum funding and relies heavily on donations, while clubs like Clitheroe also have no income, but are under constant pressure from the football authorities to improve facilities.

"We're both big fans of Clitheroe FC and think Derian House does a great job, so we aim to split the proceeds between them."

The pair, both researchers at Clitheroe manufacturer 3M Neotechnic, have already raised £700 in sponsorship for their soccer dash, which sets off on September 13.

They have so far received promises of memorabilia from Middlesbrough, Derby County, Colchester, Huddersfield and Aston Villa Football Clubs.

Their route around the country will see them leave Ewood Park, home of Blackburn Rovers, and finish at Burnley FC's Turf Moor.

Ian said: "We will set off from Ewood and drive north, via Preston North End. The route was quite hard to plan and is a bit zig-zaggy, but basically we're taking in every region and looping back to Lancashire.

"We will mostly be staying with friends or in guest houses wherever we can, but there may be the odd night when we have to sleep in the car!"

The intrepid duo have written to car hire companies requesting the loan of a car and are looking for donations for petrol, which they estimate will cost in the region of £300.

Ian added: "As far as I know, this hasn't been attempted before, although I believe a national radio station tried it once with a helicopter, so this could be a first. We're just looking forward to having a good time and raising cash for two great causes."

The pair have set up a web site outlining their tour and anyone wanting to sponsor them is asked to visit it.

A spokesman for the Football League said: "I have no idea if this has been done before, but I certainly wish them good luck.

"It sounds like it will be tiring work, but well worth the effort and hopefully they'll get the chance to watch a game en-route!"

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