Cricket fans run up the miles for charity

PROUD moment . . . Matt Williams, Paul Harrison, Matthew Tipton and Kevin Richardson with the signed Nasser Hussain print outside Lord’s. Mark Stafford had to leave and missed the picture

AFTER 1,260 miles, 110 roundabouts and only a handful of wrong-turnings, five intrepid travellers completed their trip to the 18 major first-class cricket grounds in England and Wales.

The tired but determined tourists finished off their five-day journey at Lord’s, where they were presented with a framed print of Nasser Hussain, which was signed by the former England captain himself.

From Lancashire to Leicestershire, and from Glamorgan to Kent, the party, including four members of Shaw Cricket Club, plotted their way along busy motorways and side roads to complete their mission.

Blackpool FC secretary and trip organiser Matt Williams, professional footballer Matthew Tipton, Mark Stafford and Paul Harrison, as well as Oldham Evening Chronicle sports editor Kevin Richardson, collected a piece of cricketing memorabilia at the grounds. Only Hampshire, of the 18 counties, failed to hand anything over.

The quintet were joined by three other members of Shaw CC on Saturday when they appeared on Sky Sports’ “Cricket AM” programme as ‘club of the week’.

The tour was in aid of Cystic Fibrosis and Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, and donations can be made by visiting www.challenge6.co.uk