We’re going for a spin around the counties

Howzat . . .checking their route, from left, Matt Williams, Paul Harrison, Matthew Tipton, Mark Stafford and Kevin Richardson

FIVE sporting fanatics were hitting the road today for a first-class fund-raiser — visiting all major county cricket grounds in five days.

And their first port of call was Old Trafford, the home of Lancashire, before moving on to Headingley and then Durham.

The intrepid party includes Matt Williams, who is secretary of Premier League new boys Blackpool, Mark Stafford and Paul Harrison, president and treasurer respectively of Shaw Cricket Club, former Athletic striker Matthew Tipton and Oldham Evening Chronicle sports editor Kevin Richardson.

They are raising money for Dr Kershaw’s and Cystic Fibrosis.

The tour ends on Saturday with an appearance on Sky Sports’ “Cricket AM” programme, before heading to Lords, the home of cricket.

Matt Williams said “The number of people who visit the 92 Football League clubs for charity is on the increase and I thought this would be something different.”

Schedule:

Day one: Shaw CC, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Durham, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire.

Day two: Leicestershire, Northants, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire.

Day three: Glamorgan, Somerset, Hampshire, Sussex.

Day four: Kent, Essex, Surrey. Day five: Cricket AM, Middlesex.