Sport fans probably know better than most that sometimes pleasure and pain are inextricably linked. A walk up the highest mountain in England or Wales is therefore a peculiarly appropriate way to raise money for a football club.
Every year, Wrexham Supporters Trust (www.wst.org.uk) organises a sponsored hike up Snowdon. This year, to mark the club’s 150th anniversary, they invited representatives from other clubs to join them. So it was that on the morning of Sunday 29 June, around 100 people in football shirts were to be seen making their way up the Miner’s Track. Most wore the red of Wrexham, but there was also a good sprinkling of other shirts, including the two of us for Grimsby.
Perhaps inevitably, the club's best represented were those whose history demonstrates the needs for supporters to play a full and active role in their club. Apart from Wrexham themselves, now run by the supporters trust, there were people from, to name a few:
· 1874 Northwich, formed by fans of Northwich Victoria after a succession of off field controversies denied the club the use of its historic Victoria Ground, vowing to “bring the game of football back as the central focus of the club.”
· Coventry, with a modern stadium they are locked out of, reduced to playing their home games at Northampton
· Hereford, battling to save the club after its ejection from the Conference;
· Hinckley AFC, a community-owned club established in January after Hinckley United were wound up last year
There is an important thread of solidarity that is common to both football and to hill-walking. A gentle first couple of miles had us all walking in our club groups. Then the walk proper begins, as you stare up towards the summit and realise that there is a long, steep scramble to come. Now the different groups began to mingle, offering encouragement and sharing common memories. When one supporter slipped, inevitably the cry of “Penalty” was met by the counter-claim of “It’s a dive”, even as we stopped to help him to his feet.
The outlook of the fans was invariably broad – proud of their club but often humblingly knowledgeable about the game as a whole and ready to share best wishes. This was especially true of the organisers. Wrexham ran the event with a natural mix of good organisation and informality, the tone set by a brief and friendly speech at the start of the walk with the welcome promise of a free tea or coffee, paid for by Supporters Direct, when we reached the top. Their new boss Kevin Wilkin took part in the climb as did other membesr of their staff including ex-Everton and Wales midfielder Barry Horne, and quite a number of their fans managed to remind us of the FA Trophy 2012-13 Final.....
They even organised the weather. A few clouds provided welcome shade when we were at the steepest part of the walk, but that gave way to sunshine, and splendid views across the mountains and along the Welsh coast at the summit.
We were proud to be there for Grimsby, and glad to have played our part in raising money for the Mariners. Above all though, we were glad to have enjoyed such a fine walk in excellent company, friendly rivalries on the pitch forgotten. After all, if we are to continue enjoying football’s partisanship, we need well run clubs to play against.
More news on monies raised to follow shortly, it is not to late to donate; please get in touch to show your support forGTFC youth development!