Pupils’ grounds for charity help (From Echo)

Pupils’ grounds for charity help

5:40pm Tuesday 1st November 2011 in Schools

THREE school friends visited the grounds of all 11 London-based professional football clubs in one day and raised hundreds of pounds for charity.

Joe Smith, Andy Goshawk and Lloyd Ryder, all 15, had to rely on trains and buses for their whistle-stop tour of the capital during half-term.

The trio, who are all pupils at Billericay School, took photos of themselves outside of the grounds they visited.

Joe and Andy enjoyed the trip to their team West Ham, and Lloyd was happy to make the pilgrimage to his team, Arsenal.

All three also have a keen interest in local non-league football, and Joe was among the fans who travelled with Southend Manor for their big FA Cup game at Kettering at the weekend.

The boys took in the sights of Premier League high-flyers Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge home, and League Two strugglers Dagenham & Redbridge’s Victoria Road base, and all the clubs ranked in between.

They raised more than £300 for the Macmillan Cancer Support charity.

Joe’s mum Lisa said: “They set off about 9.30am on Friday and they had to rely on public transport.

“And it is something they came up with themselves.

“They wanted to do something for charity after one of the school friends lost his dad to cancer recently.

“And Joe’s granddad also died from cancer two years ago, so they all wanted to try and help Macmillan.

“Joe said they want to do something like this again next year, but they don’t know what it will be yet.”