This time, the ride will pay homage to the late great Bill Shankly, taking in three of the clubs he managed: Carlisle United (1948-1951), Huddersfield Town (1956-1959) and Liverpool FC (1959-1974).
The ride will begin at Carlisle United’s Brunton Park on the morning of Wednesday 4 May and will finish that evening 80 miles south in Lancaster. On Thursday 5 May, the ride will start in Lancaster, pass Preston North End whom Shankly played for from 1933 to 1949, and end in Liverpool, which is 65 miles in total. Friday 6 May will be the last day of the ride, starting in Liverpool and ending 70 miles away back in Huddersfield.
There will be a celebration for the cyclists at PPG Canalside on the Friday evening with friends and family welcome. On Saturday 7 May, the day of Town’s last home game versus Brentford, participants will be asked to meet at PPG Canalside pre kick off, and make their way on to the John Smith’s Stadium for their lap of honour.
The ride is 215 miles in total and will see supporters and staff alike raising funds for the ‘Keep It Up’ campaign; the Club’s fundraising partnership between the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the Huddersfield Town Academy.
Club Ambassador Andy Booth commented:
“I am extremely excited about ‘P4P7: The Shankly Tour’. It’s a challenging route, and one we’ve never done before, and to take in other clubs along the way should be something special. It’s different in that it’s over two nights and the atmosphere at PPG Canalside when the ride ends there on the Friday evening should be great.
“We know lots of people like to see our cyclists enter the Stadium on the last game of the season so we’re glad to be able to be doing that again this year. I’d urge Town fans to back the ride again this year and help us raise funds for a fantastic cause!” Orchard Energy Managing Director Gareth Henderson said:
“Once again, we are really proud to be the main sponsor of Pedal for Pounds. It’s an event that we love to get involved in. It's for a great cause and the camaraderie and the support behind all the riders is phenomenal. The Orchard team can't wait to take part next year – we're already in training!”
If you would like to take part in the Pedal for Pounds 7 bike ride, please download a sign up form and medical form from www.htafc.com and return both along with your £50 registration fee (non-refundable; covers official cycling jersey, bike and bag tags. coach travel to Carlisle, ‘I completed t-shirt’, dinner, water and snacks, breakfast on departure and a pie and pea supper on arrival).
Forms can be posted FAO Andy Booth, PPG Canalside, 509 Leeds Road, Huddersfield, HD2 1YJ or handed in at the Stadium ticket office windows. Cheques should be made out to the ‘Keep It Up’ campaign.
The deadline date for entries is Wednesday 13 January 2016.
The Club’s previous Pedal for Pounds bike rides have contributed over £900,000 to the £1.3 million raised for the campaign so far since its inception in 2009. For more information please contact andy.booth@htafc.com.
