A Shiny New Day

The disappointments of yesterday were quickly behind me as I started off for Leicester City Football Club. Sadly, the lady at reception directed me (correctly!) to Leicester Tigers but fortunately their impressive ground is only minutes away from Filbert Way so I got two bites of the cherry, so to speak. Flibert Way is another impressive new stadium and bears little resemblance to their old ground at Filbert Street. I was soon back on my cycle for the relatively easy and short trip to Coventry. It would have been easier if the signs for Coventry did not keep disappearing!

Then like a mirage, there was the M6 motorway a huge sign to Coventry a herd of hotels (or is it a flock?) The cheapest was Premiere Classe and I had a great single room at a reasonable price with free wifi. Premiere Classe is part of the Campanile Group and whilst the Campanile hotels are sadly out of my budget, I broke my own rules for once to get a good night’s sleep, some serious abuse of my keyboard and somewhere safe to park my bike. Sadly, Coventry is the only one they have so far but there are plans to open more. Good Luck, Premiere Classe. If they are all as good as Coventry the group will do well.

Anyway, it was good to find somewhere so early and I was happy to be watching the Chelsea versus Manchester United game. I mused that I have watched far less football on this trip than I would have done normally and realised that I had actually only seen one full game live. I am not worried about this as the trip is about the refugees and not mot me watching football but, nevertheless, it is quite ironic!

The early finish also gave me the opportunity to catch up on the papers and I enjoyed reading the predictions in yesterday’s papers about the likely outcome of the championship. Well, the writer must be looking for a hole to dive into as there were a number of surprises and many of his tips for the top (and those for relegation!) look way off the mark. That said and as Sir ALex always tells us as Man Utd get off to a slow start (Burnley away last season!) it’s a marathon and not a sprint! My own team, Gillingham, found the going tough even in League Two and had a late goal to thank for saving a home point. Oh, dear!

So, a busy week ahead with Coventry, Northampton, Milton Keynes, Oxford United and City, Swindon, Bristol City and Rovers all coming up. I have written to them all and hope they will show the same hospitality as Rotherham, Chesterfield, Sheffield United, Notts County and Nottingham Forest did. I am especially looking forward to the visit to Oxford City as they looked after Bjørn so well last year.

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Disappointment at Burton Albion.

Today was possibly the most disappointing day of the tour. I cycled from just outside Nottingham to Burton Albion and despite calls I had made in the morning I was not allowed access to their stadium. I heard various excuses about, “it should have been organised in advance” and the words “safety officer” were bandied about but the bottom line is that I could not get in. So a 40 mile round trip in vain. When I think of the superb support the project has had from clubs like Man City, Man Utd, Liverpool, Everton, Valencia, Barcelona and Burton’s near neighbours Derby County, Notts County, Nottingham Forest etc I wonder who they think they are. First they made no response whatsoever to my letter of introduction and then they start shuffling as to whose responsibility it is at the club. I have no less than five names! Anyway, Burton Albion you have missed a PR opportunity that other clubs from the Chesterfield and Hartlepools to the Liverpool and Barcelonas have squeezed. End of. I cycled straight on to Leicester and got myself booked into a nice room much earlier than I expected!

The artwork above is from my artist friend Dave Baldwin from Papilios Creative 
Check his website for hundreds of great watercolours of the UK stadiums. 

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Two BNI Meetings In One Day

Yes, even given my evangelism for BNI I almost overdosed today! Firstly it was Two Valleys Chapter who meet at the Novotel in Long Eaton and secondly it was off up the road to a lunchtime chapter at Ripley, BNI Parkside. The juxtaposition was quite interesting as there were two chapters of similar numbers and two excellent meetings ……but very different ones. It just shows the strength of the BNI organisation that the individual chapters can give the agenda their unique style. I could not fail to comment on the 10 minute presentation by Gary Bullock at Parkside. Very amusing, very informative and it included a ferret and a beautiful hawk! Yes, I kid you not, we had a live ferret and a majestic but noisy hawk! I’m just awaiting the photos to prove it. Thanks to Consumate Networker (better than Notable Networker!) Jason Smith the local executive director for organising both my invitations.

Just to re-inforce the power of BNI, they got me pitchside at Pride Park, Derby which became ground 55. After all the help that BNI have given me it was again wonderful to reciprocate in a small way and it was great to have Jason and BNI stalwart, Sara Gration with me at the ground. Sara is a HUGE Derby County fan and was delighted to welcome me to “her” stadium. Thanks and best of luck to all at Derby County this season.

I was also delighted to meet Kim Kimberley at Parkside. (Any relation to Gary and Phil’s father Nev Neville?) Her son, Leigh Timmis is currently cycling around the world!! Please check his site and say hi to somebody who I am sure could teach me a lot about how I should be cycling! I wish Leigh every success as you continue through Croatia and straight ahead …….. for the next 2 years! Lycka till, te deseo mucha suerte and all the luck in the world in whichever language he likes!

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Two Clubs – Two Dreams – Two Hundred Yards Apart

It was an early and bad start to the day. Firstly, the hotel did not give me my early morning wake-up call but fortunately I was dreaming about scoring Gillingham’s winning goal at Wembley (again) and I managed to wake at 5,30 without the hotel’s help. Sadly, when I got downstairs I found somebody had slashed my back tyre overnight. Mild panic as I needed to get across the other side of town in 15 minutes. Fortunately I just made the BNI Forest meeting and it was there that I made one of the Smaritans of my jpurney. Andrew Elliott offered to chauffeur me all morning and without his awesome assistance I have no idea how the day would have turned out. Firstly, it was back to the hotel to see how bad it was and when it was clear I would need a new tyre and tube it was down to Matt at Bunneys Bikes. Despite being busy he recognised my plight (30 minutes maximum to get to Meadow Lane!) and immediately had the bike on a mount and within minutes it was returned to its former glory and we were off hot-foot to Notts County. Huge thanks to all at Bunneys. Samaritan(s) Number 2 of the day. Thanks also to Steve at BNI Forest who recommended Bunneys and gave me superb directions! Another Smaritan!

At Notts we were met by Ralph Shepherd who like Adam at Chesterfield knew exactly what he wanted and what he was prepared to do.

We talked about Notts being the oldest league club and it was indeed touching to see a band of their loyal supporters scrubbing the seats in readiness for the New Season and a home game against Huddersfield Town. Ralph is a huge fan as well as being the ultimate professional and if his passion transfers to the players, they will do well in League One. Thanks, Ralph. Thanks also for the scarf which will remind me of a great day in Nottingham (despite its start!) Good Luck.

Sadly we were pressing a deadline so we were quickly off to the City Ground just a few hundred yards away. Of late, Forest have been the “Big Boys” in Nottingham and their determination to stay that way is clear. They are also firmly behind the 2018 Bid for which they too will have a shiney new stadium. On to the pitch again with Ben White for some photos and a good chat with him about their bid , their aspirations for the season and “life in general” before we rushed off.

So a HUGE thanks to Andrew Elliott, Bunneys and also Tony Russel from BNI who has been working diligently to get me a face to face at his beloved Burton Albion. Let’s hope!

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A quiet day with just a short journey from Ripley to Nottingham. I then spent the same amount of time looking for somewhere to stay. This accommodation search most nights is a total hassle. Great respect to BNI who have arranged accommodation for the next two nights in two separate hotels in Long Eaton. It saves such time. Thanks, guys.

No BNI meeting this morning but I have 3 confirmed for this week – Parkside, Two Valleys and Forest. I am looking forward to them all. I have received tremendous support from Frank Flegg and Jason Smith the two local directors. They will be mentioned in despatches to BNI Head Office. Lovely also to hear from so many BNI members who I have met who are now regularly following me, emailing me, tweeting me. Your support is much appreciated.

Also confirmed up with Notts County and Notts Forest for visits to their grounds. Fantastic when I do get the opportunity to confirm in advance. Just turning up at Chesterfield would not have allowed me to get the fantastic support I did. Sadly, sometimes time does just not allow it and/or there is a change in the diary. Perfect world ……….

Got a lovely email from a Derby County fan today. She was the first bride at the Pride Park Stadium ……. precisely one day after the Queen opened it. I’ll be passing her respects tomorrow.

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Great day

Fantastic hospitality from Rotherham United and Chesterfield at their fabulous new stadium. A real pleasure to meet the guys.

I also got a sponsor for the day. Shout out for Bristol Street Motors in Chesterfield who did what they said they would and paid up when they said they would. (Nice Jaffa Cakes!)THANKS.

Sadly,I have lost my glasses and am absolutely hopeless without them. So, how do I type this? I type it in Word and then increase the font size so that even I can see it before I then reduce to a standard size. Really slow so I will go out as soon as I can to get a new pair.

Got some great photos from yesterday and will upload them just as soon as I can. They ARE worth woiting for, I assure you.

I’m in Ripley on Notts/Derbys border. This is not B&B land and was delighted to find anywhere after nearly 3 hours of cycling in vain looking for anywhere open. Just when I had decided to find a lorry or shed or whatever a guy in a pub told me about Moss Cottage. To get to it I had to cycle through a wood (!) in the dark (NO FUN!) but as I saw it it seemed like an oasis to me. (….or is it a mirage!)

More later with my new glasses……

Well, as I said, I was regally welcomed by Adam Hulme at Chesterfield and it was a real pleasure to see their new stadium which, to be polite, is a tad superior to Saltergate. It really is a “model” stadium and Adam was kind enough to take me backstage too. VERY impressive. Adam also brought along the club photographer and Tina Jenner was soon busy taking shots and videoing me cycle around the OUTSIDE of the pitch ….. under the watchful eye of the groundsman. I have to say the playing surface looks absolutely magnificent and the Spireites will not be able to blame the pitch if they don’t get promoted this season!

Adam even added an article to the official club website and it is an excellent overview of the progress of the journey. There is also a video interview for those who can cope with my dulcid tones. If I sound out of breadth, please blame the mountain that is Eckington which is incoveniently placed between where I was (Rotherham) and where I wanted to be (Chesterfield!) Thanks, Adam and Tina. I really enjoyed my time with you and wish you well for the new stadium.

Now, Rotherhm is an “interesting one”. The team play in one city (Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield) are based in another (Rotherham…..in a rather uninspiring office on an rather uninspriring industrial estate) and train in yet another town, Doncaster. Yet, despite all that, there was a play-off place last season and they are obviously hoping to go one better this season. The trouble is that so are 23 other clubs and with the likes of Bury, Gillingham, Shrewsbury and Wycombe they know it will not be easy. They were kind enough to present me with a T-Shirt commemorating their play-off adventure and it was a bitter-sweet moment I am sure when I was photographed proudly wafting it in the breeze. Good Luck to all at Rotherham and hope you soon get the permanent base you are looking forward to. That was my last Yorkshire ground and with one (notable) exception I was well treated at all. Good Yorkshire hospitality and I must also thank Mick Daniels from Sheffield and his family who were kind enough to accoomodate me for two nights. Mick is a huge Blades fan and he very kindly arranged for me to have the Royal Tour at their famous old ground. Thanks!

So, now in Derbyshire but with a detour into Nottinghamshire for Nottm Forest and Notts County before I really hit some miles with Derby, Burton, Leicester, Coventry, Northampton, Milton Keynes, Oxford in the next week. Wish me luck!

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Woke up early and immediately set to on what I knew was going to be a marathon session of emails, blogs, updates etc

One of the challenges of being on the road is the logistic exercise so it’s a huge relief to have free wifi, privacy, somewhere safe for my bike ….. and coffee.

Great start to the day with enthusiastic welcomes from no less than five local clubs – Wednesday, Sheffield United, Chesterfield, Rotherham and Notts County. It’s fantastic to have them confirmed in advance and I was particularly excited to receive a call from Adam at Chesterfield who was very helpful and had a number of constructive suggestions. I look forward to meeting him and his tomorrow. (As long as their new ground is not at the top of another mountain! Rome was built on seven hills, Sheffield’s are steeper!)

So, after a morning as a keyboard warrior it was off to Sheffield United where I was privileged to be given a grand tour of the impressive stadium. Thanks to Mick Daniels for organising this. It is most appreciated. I was shown around the pitch which looks to be in great condition as well as “backstage” before I was shown the two new statues outside the main reception. It is always a pleasure to go to a club like Carlisle, Burnley, Boro, Bolton where you are shown around by people who obviously love their club and who have real pride in same. Sadly, it was soon time to move on to Sheffield Wednesday. Here I could only muse that a club with so much history start their season against Dagenham and Redbridge which is a club with a tiny footprint but has every right to play against the Wednesdays of this world.

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Early start and a short downhill (!!) to Bradford’s stadium

It’s a long time since I was a regular at (the then) Valley Parade. The stadium is now an awful lot more impressive than it was in the 1970s but, of course, I remembered the fire and it reminded me that we are never that far from tragedy.

Highlight of the Tour

One of the absolute highlights of the tour was to meet fellow Ecademist Martin Dewhurst. I have always had great respect for Martin and make no apology for copying an update he added to Ecademy after the meeting. As you see, he is a man of great insight and with a huge knowledge of the refugee issue. I was also extremely keen to catch up with him on his Penny On project which I think is so blindingly obvious it hurts. I am, quite openly, keen to see if I can assist with this. I quote,

Hi Steve,

It was inspiring to meet you on Sunday at Bradford.

We talked about the plight of refugees and how mere mention of the word ‘refugee’ and people can immediately think of problems they associate with immigration.

I’m not sure either if ‘international displaced persons’ quite works either, IDP’s as they’re referred to in development circles are still people like you and me, people who in the majority of cases who have lost everything including a safe place to live and call their home.

In many ways, Steve in taking on this challenge is experiencing what life is like for some of the worlds 45m refugees. He’s constantly on the move, his life’s possessions have been destroyed and what he has left he carries with him as he moves from place to place in search of support. Like any great undertaking done in the spirit of selflessness, the lessons along the way provide insights into the lives of our peers in other countries. The lessons provide empathy, a sense of connection to people who live like this 24/7 and recognition for their situation.

Steve wisely chose not to make this epic journey about raising funds, as a society we’re already at charity overload point with so many people competing for the charity pound. In my partners case, working at head office for a large high street retailer, every day at work she has to run the gauntlet to get to her desk past the growing crowd of charities that now set up base in the reception area, then once at her desk there’s at least 3 requests per day for sponsorship.
One recent “charity challenge” involved 14 members of staff on full pay and during work time, doing the 3 peaks challenge, they raised £440. Multiply this by the UK’s big employers and that’s a lot of effort to do more, shout louder, stand out from the crowd.

And there’s a downside, people who already give generously out of their wages are left to feel guilty for not sponsoring every person that requests support for their fundraiser.

One amazing fundraiser I know jumped off Everest in a parachute to raise funds, massive effort, risk and what next?

Steve, riding to raise awareness for the worlds refugees was guided by the UN’s advice to Bjorn, who did the same, cycled and took with him a message of ‘remember the refugees’.

Steve’s also already planning his next trip, it’s even bigger than this one and involves more clubs, more miles and tons more energy.

I noticed there’s been a few stirling supporters here on Ecademy for Steve, many more from BNI too and if there was one thing we could do to make Steve’s next push that little bit more possible, its by finding a sponsor to provide a tour vehicle and support team to accompany the tour and organize the journey ahead of each stage.

Aside from the breathtaking physical effort of this journey, Steve has also had to cope with much of the logistics, meeting times and places, accommodation, sponsorship en route. Physically, mentally and emotionally a mammoth task.

Steve, I salute your determination, courage and willingness to undertake this on behalf of others, and in spite of all the challenges you’ve faced.

You are an inspiration and I look forward to asisting anyway I can with your efforts going forward.

On behalf of all my refugee friends …
Shukran, shukran, shukran.”

Thanks, Martin. I am sure there is much we can do together.

Then it was TOUGH ride from Bradford to Sheffield. All was going well until I hit Huddersfield and found a slow 4 mile uphill climb! Happy Sunday!

I eventually made Sheffield to be met by Mick Daniels and his family who have kindly offered to feed and water me for two days. Mick is a HUGE Sheffield United fan and it was “the man himself” who organised for Bjørn to be hosted at the United Watford game last season. (See photo) That was a highlight of his 11 month tour and Bjørn still talks about Yorkshire hospitality. After a superb evening meal I can understand why!

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Probably the quietest day on the tour so far. Had short journey from Leeds to Ramada Hotel Bradford ……and slept!

Well, I guess I did some catching up, emails and washing but it was pretty much a R&R day. I had had plans for some insightful updates on the first half of the tour and my thoughts for the remaining 45 clubs but I put my head on a pillow …..and 5 hours later I wondered where I had been!

Anyway, there were no appointments, I had let nobody down so I guess it was Nature telling me to slow down for a while. It was also great to be in a super hotel with a single room where I could spread everything out and pack/repack. This is really a great hotel now. The staff were amazing at check-in. They had me down as “Cyclist Steve”, were keen to hear of my journey, had tidied out a space in a shed so that my bike would be secure and generally made me feel like a returning son rather than just one more guest. To cap it all one of the chambermaids showed me direct to my room and wished me a wonderful stay. A great start and some nice touches. The huge bed looked very inviting and as I walked in the room, the TV opened with a welcome to “Cyclist Steve”. As I saw the welcome tray with hot chcocolate and biscuits, the beautiful views over the Pennines and the deep, deep bath I was about to luxuriate in, I compared it with the “welcome” from Leeds United. If you are in doubt, Bradford just got the edge!!

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After busy busy day it was great to work from the office of The Vinery in Huddersfield today.

At end of day, two hour trip to Leeds became nearly three because of driving rain and was very happy to arrive at Ramada Leeds Parkway for a one night stay ……and to get dry!

Went to Elland Road on way (ground 47) and was met by rudest reception of any club. Jobsworth steward not happy about me taking photos of the OUTSIDE of the stadium. I explained I was visiting all 92 grounds and had been met with universal hospitality and friendship. I guess there had to be an exception! Steve, ignore it and look forward to Bradford.

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