Get on your bike to help a great cause
For most clubs European excursions are not on the agenda. Luckily, as the Official Charity Partner of The Football League, Prostate Cancer UK is providing Oxford United supporters with a European footballing adventure they don’t have to dream about.The London to Amsterdam Challenge is calling on groups of friends to represent the U's to join a star-studded peloton cycling from Leyton Orient FC to Dutch giants Ajax.
International trio Luther Blissett, Terry Butcher and Matt Holland will line up at The Matchroom Stadium in east London in the early hours of Friday 12 June 2015 for the third annual #L2A, aiming to raise over £250,000 to help save men’s lives.
The 145-mile event includes a half-time pit-stop at Colchester United FC before the squad set sail from Harwich at the end of day one. The second day, Saturday, June 13th takes in a serene sojourn along the pristine pathways of the Netherlands culminating in a finale at the Amsterdam Arena.
The hook of Holland
Former Republic of Ireland star Holland, who skippered AFC Bournemouth, Ipswich Town and Charlton Athletic during his playing days, recently signed for #MenUnited and is relishing the challenge of returning to European action.
Footballer-turned-media man Holland represented the Tractor Boys in continental competition and, after joining the talkSPORT squad for the event, said:
“I’ve got some great memories of European football. As a player I’ll never forget when Ipswich hosted Inter Milan and we beat them 1-0 with an Alun Armstrong header. And as a fan it would be the dramatic Champion’s League final in 1999 when Manchester United came back from the dead and won it 2 -1 against Bayern Munich at the Nou Camp. They scored two goals in added time and that was just frightening. As for London to Amsterdam, this cycling event is a new challenge for me but something I’m really looking forward to. I’ll bring some leadership to the talkSPORT team and it will be great to join some familiar faces in what’s sure to be a fun few days.
Prostate cancer kills one man every hour in the UK, and in 2014 riders from more than 50 clubs helped raise more than £200,000 to support the 250,000 men affected by the disease in the UK.
Not only will you and your mates have a great excuse to visit Amsterdam, you’ll be helping to beat prostate cancer.
To find out more about representing Oxford United on the London to Amsterdam Challenge visit prostatecanceruk.org/amsterdam