Coaches to run ultramarathon calling at four football grounds

Three junior football coaches at a grassroots football club set up in 1884 are running an ultramarathon that will see them pass four football grounds in Lancashire.

Jake Anderson, Dave Pearson and James Robinson are set to run the 55km (34 miles) challenge to go towards the £90,000 needed for a new 3G pitch at Chipping Football Club in Preston.

Pearson explained how after doing the Manchester Marathon they decided to go even further and do an ultramarathon to help with the "vital" pitch upgrade.

The trio are running from Blackpool FC to Chipping FC via AFC Fylde and Preston North End FC - with dozens of junior players running the final 1km to "push us over the finishing line", said Anderson.

The club has so far raised £30,000 but needs another £60,000 to upgrade its astro turf, which is more than 20 years old.

Pearson told BBC Radio Lancashire as "custodians" of the 142-year-old family-orientated club, the trio wanted to do something to reinvest in it and help get the surface which has got to the end of its life up to standard.

He said: "We came up with the idea of running from Bloomfield Road at Blackpool to AFC Fylde, then go to Deepdale at Preston, then run to Chipping - which is uphill all the way."

He added: "We'll feel it."

Pearson said everyone from the club had been "mucking in" to help with their challenge with junior members waiting in the village to join the trio on their final stretch.

Anderson said: "It'll be amazing to see the children.

"They'll help push us over the finishing line."

The village club runs junior, women's and senior football teams as well as staging walking football sessions.

Club chairman Paul Eland said it was vital the community club, which has about 200 members from four years old to 76, upgraded its pitch.

Eland added the "ever-growing" club provided a "massive facility for the whole community".

He said the club, on Club Lane, had a special camaraderie especially among the walking football group.

"They've talked about the memories back to them from when they used to play football but it has also give an outlet to chat about their mental health issues... and health issues," he said.

The chairman said people have found being able to open up at the sessions had been "invaluable".

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.