Although I have not been filling your in-boxes on a daily basis with what I have been up to, I can assure you that Bjorn and I have been beavering away. It’s been great to get regular updates from many we were in contact with on our journeys and I’d like to highlight a few today.

1) Bury FC – my great friend Mark Catlin is the Commercial Director at the progressive Bury FC near Manchester. He has been a constant source of support and friendship since we started. As soon as he heard of Bjorn’s trip, he whizzed a shirt over and I think he was probably the first English club to support. Respect!

Later, I was warmly welcomed to the Gigg Lane ground when I travelled through the UK. I met up with him in Gibraltar at the weekend when the Bury team played a friendly against the Gibraltar national team. Those who have followed the project from day one will remember that we had a terrific reception in Gibraltar as Bjorn travelled through Europe.

Bjorn in Gibraltar

Mark tells me the Bury team are doing well and that they are an outside bet for the Championship through the play-offs. This is a terrific achievement from probably the smallest club in League One. This is what mark said back in July 2010.

I talked to Mark about the project and he is keen to stay involved. We will be confirming details in the next few days but as a taster I can confirm that any friend of The Shirt can have free tickets to Bury or Crystal Palace home games! Thanks, Mark. He has another very exciting offer but I am sworn to secrecy…..let’s just say you will love it!

2) Whilst Mark and Bury have been long-term followers of the project, I am delighted to welcome Garry Pickles to the long list of supporters. I recently met Garry on www.ecademy.com who as many will know have given Bjorn and I great support over the last two years. Garry is the owner of Online Media Direct was immediately enthused about the project and immediately offered to send a shirt over. He said one of his clients,
T-Shirt Subway were shirt printers and he got them to assist! Thanks, Garry. We really appreciate your support.

“T-Shirt Subway Joins Charity Project to Create World’s Biggest Shirt

T-Shirt Subway is pleased to be part of an amazing project to create the world’s largest shirt in aid of charity.
The world’s greatest music t-shirts’ store is donating one of its own shirts to make up part of the biggest shirt ever seen!
Each t-shirt donated will be photographed before being added to the site, in this case one of T-Shirt Subway’s coveted Music T shirts. It is being donated as part of an inspirational project to raise awareness for the world’s 45 million refugees, fleeing war, famine and natural disaster, under the aegis of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
The project was the brainchild of Norwegian Bjorn Heidenstrom, who is cycling from Oslo to South Africa via Europe and the African continent. His “volunteer PR and back-up” is Brit Steve Hall, currently resident in Spain. Football-mad Steve has been doing his own bit for the cause with the aid of his bike, having cycled to all 92 football league clubs in England and Wales between May and 23 September 2010. During his travels he collected scores of football shirts which have been added to the pile which will eventually become the world’s biggest ever shirt.
A spokesman for T-Shirt Subway said: “We are thrilled to be part of this fantastic consciousness-raising project for the world’s 45 million refugees.”
“We hope that ourMusic T shirt, which will eventually join so many others can play its small part in increasing awareness and improving the lot of these desperate people.”

So that’s yet another one for Bjorn to sew onto the mega-shirt back home in Norway. Sadly, I did not get a photo before it was sent but I am sure Bjorn will send one soonest.

If anybody has shirts they are holding onto, please do not hesitate to get them to us. ALL are welcome. Just shout for delivery addresses!

Wow, I started this update on Christmas Eve and it’s already a month on. Much seems to have happened but, sadly, one thing has not changed. Despite all our best efforts, the refugee crises around the world seem to become more and more acute. To be honest, I feel quite helpless but it’s not my

So, this is it. What the last two and a half years have been about – this is the Shirt in all its glory in Oslo. As you can see it take two cranes to lift it now. If your shirt is there – THANKS. If your shirt is not there – PLEASE get in touch.

There is lots happening in 2012 and over the next few days I will be commenting on the activities for this spring and summer. Hint? Poland and The Ukraine. Bigger hint? No, sorry…..coming soon!

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Breaking News

Spain will play France, Belarus, Georgia, Finland in the World Cup Qualifying round. They are in the ONLY group (I) that has only five teams. All the other eight teams had six teams competing. Psycholigically, will that aid or harm Spain’s chances of returning to Brazil to defend the World Cup they won last year in South Africa.

There are many who think that as defending champions they should automatically return but that is not the way FIFA ruled so they have eight games to battle through to confirm their place in Brazil.

¡Mucha Suerte! ¡A por ellos!

I won’t try to hide it. I am struggling to come to terms with the horrific atrocities in Oslo and Utøya.

I was at a torch procession in Halden, 120 kms south of Oslo and it was a very emotional evening for all.

This photo taken by Bjørn explains how the people of Norway feel.

I am will keep this very simple. Today I heard from Bjorn. He and his family are all well and were not involved in the Oslo atrocities. I had not heard from him for 48 hours since Friday. The relief was immense.

“TODAY WE ARE ALL NORWEGIANS!

As I said, the other day, it’s always good to be in touch with any Friends of The Shirt project. Today I got an email from the guys at Bloodrun. By complete coincidence this very week I was in Middlesbrough and was regally hosted at their impressive stadium and of course met Mark and John.

So, they have something very interesting:

“Now this is going to be one of those posts where you’ll keep reading, or you’ll switch off, but please bear with me, it’s all for a good cause!

I know not everyone who reads the blog is a football fan, and even those who are may not have the acquired taste that allows them to support Middlesbrough, however Simon Smith has managed to get his hands on a signed Middlesbrough Football Club football, complete with certificate of authentication (so you can be sure Jon hasn’t been set loose with a football and a Sharpie!) and has very generously agreed to sell it on eBay with all the proceeds being donated to keeping the Bloodbikes on the road.

So place a bid and stand a chance of bagging yourself your very own piece of local footballing history, would look great on the mantelpiece, or if you’re a Newcastle fan, give it to the kids to kick about in the garden with the dog!

In all seriousness though, thank you very much to Simon and MFC for being so generous and helpful to the cause.

Now all that’s left to say is Get Bidding!!”

Click here to view eBay page

BTW, if you win the auction you are “allowed” to donate it to “The Shirt”!

It’s always great to hear from supporters of the Shirt Project and even more exciting when it’s somebody who has actively supported Björn and I. So, I was especially pleased to hear from Glossop North End today. They have been upgrading the ground this summer and I was delighted to see the photos! By absolute coincidence I saw them play this Saturday last summer at Whitley Bay

Congratulations to all the Hillmen for the terrific new facilities at the ground.

If you want to follow the club please check here Look what trophy they currently hold so proudly!

What a difference a day makes, 24 little hours …as the song goes
What a difference a year makes, little hours

So, exactly one year ago today

1) I was allowed out of hospital after my cycle crash …..I can’t say I remember much about that

and

2) Spain won the World Cup against Holland with a great goal by Iniesta

….and to be honest, I can’t remember a single thing! I don’t even remember whether I watched the match live. I do know that my great friend over many years, David Blight and his family were kind enough to host me as I recuperated but did I watch the match? I guess I should ask David. If we did watch it where were we? At your home, in a bar? I have zero memory.

BUT

365 later. All is well, I safely finished my ride after 137 days Manchester United have won the Premiership again, Real Madrid won the Copa Del Rey and Man City and Arsenal flattered to deceive ….once more. Oh and Gillingham threw away promotion when it was easier to go up than stay down! Some things never change.

Also Björn has done another MEGA-ride.

Here’s what the Shirt looks like today. Unbelievable. It takes TWO cranes to lift it.

Please follow Björn as always at www.theshirt2010.net

No wonder he is smiling!

It’s 1 in the morning on Sunday 10th July 2012 and I have just heard that Bjørn has made it. He has reached Mysen at the end of his epic cycle journey from the most northern point in Norway to the most southern point. He started off with snow, freezing temperatures and horrific winds and ended up in Østfold in the sun.

More soon from both of us but I wanted to get this news to you.

Congratulations to the “Bold, Bald, Brave Man Of The North”

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