We're on our way to Wembley – on foot!

Apr 2 2008 South Wales Echo

TWO hardy Cardiff City fans have come up with a unique way to avoid Sunday’s FA Cup travel chaos – by walking all the way to Wembley.

Aaron Williams, 18, of Heol Carnau, Caerau, Cardiff, and Christopher Goodger, 17, of St Fagans Road, Fairwater, Cardiff, set off on their 150-mile hike at midnight last night from outside the Millennium Stadium.

The pair will wear their home-made “Walk 2 Wembley” T-shirts all the way, and expect to see the Wembley arch on Sunday morning – just in time to watch the Bluebirds’ semi-final clash against Barnsley.

Many of the 33,000 City fans who are lucky enough to have a ticket for the game, fear travel woes may spoil their big day out, with major rail engineering works in the Severn Tunnel and a London Underground strike scheduled for 6pm on Sunday.

But the only travel hurdle facing these two intrepid City supporters, is finding a suitable place on route to pitch their tent.

Aaron said: “We came up with the idea three weeks ago. It started off as a bit of a laugh really. With all the delays on the trains, we said ‘we’ll have to walk’, and it just went from there.”

Now the boys hope their walk will raise more than £1,000 for Sport Relief.

“My brother raised £1,000 by jumping out of an airplane a few months ago,” said Aaron.

“That was part of the inspiration behind this idea. But we’re trying to raise even more.

“My mum and dad don’t think we will do it. They think we’ll get to Newport and turn around.

“But it’s not something to be laughed at, we’re definitely going to do it.”

By law the pair will have to avoid motorways and A-roads, travelling the whole way on minor roads.

The only exception being when they cross over to England, using the footpath on the Old Severn Bridge.

The Williams family are staunch City supporters, and Aaron has been a Bluebird for as long as he can remember.

“I always go to Ninian when I can get tickets. I used to work there in a burger van at the ground but it didn’t last because I always used to bunk off so I could watch the games,” said Aaron.

“I watched Cardiff in the quarter-final and they played really well. I’m shocked that they’ve got this far.

“My brother is going up to the game and he doesn’t think we’ll get there in time. But I wouldn’t mind getting there with two minutes to go if Cardiff are one up.”

The boys have received backing from friends and family, but are now appealing to Echo readers to get behind them and help raise as much money as possible for Sport Relief.

To make a donation visit the website at: www.mysportrelief.com/ walktowembley2008

echo.newsdesk@mediawales.co.uk

More of your good luck messages... - page 2