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Walk for Change – Wrexham to Wembley

You might remember that last year I walked from Torquay to Cambridge to highlight the injustice in youth funding and raise enough money to ensure the continued survival of our youth scheme outside the Football League.

To this end, I have formed a group called ‘Protecting Football’s Future’ (PFF) which involves the other six ex-Football League clubs in the conference who continue to run Centres of Excellence and face similar problems to ourselves. The aim of this group is to change the rules regarding funding and protection of player registrations.

We will be issuing a press release next month and aim to orchestrate a national media campaign to highlight this cause.

As the integral part of this process and to raise funds for Cambridge United Youth Development I am embarking on an even more arduous and ambitious walk.

On Wednesday 21 April I will be setting off from Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground, aiming to arrive at Wembley Stadium (FA Headquarters) on Monday 10 May. However, I won’t be taking the shortest route from Wrexham to Wembley…!

Instead, I will be walking from Wrexham to York, York to Mansfield, Mansfield to Rushden, Rushden to Luton, Luton to Oxford and Oxford to Wembley. Along the way we hope to involve current and ex-players from these clubs along with high profile personalities within football who support our cause.

For example, current Premiership players such as Michael Owen, Matthew Upson, Danny Murphy, Jack Collison, Jack Wiltshire and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake all started their careers at one of our seven clubs.

I am aiming to raise £75,000 which will again compensate for our lack of funding and protect the future of our youth scheme.

This walk is 50% longer than last year, but my commitment to our Youth Development programme and fighting the injustice that we currently face remains undiminished. I can categorically state that this will be my last walk, but with the help and involvement of the other clubs I fully believe we can initiate change.

There are a number of ways in which you can help me reach my target.

Commercial Sponsorship:

Headline Sponsors £5000 (two available)

•            Sponsor logo to appear in premiere position on all walk clothing

•            Sponsor logo to appear on doors and bonnet of walk support vehicle

•          Web link and logo on web articles for duration of walk

•          Main shirt sponsor for one of two teams for the all star game

•          10 hospitality packages for the all star game

•          On field presentation at one first team home game and the all star match to introduce sponsor

•          Full page programme advertisement for the all star game

Gold Sponsors £2500 (four available)

•            Sponsor logo to appear on sleeves of all walk clothing

•            Sponsor logo to appear on one wing and back panel of walk support vehicle

•          Web link and logo on web articles for duration of walk

•          Short and shirt sleeve sponsor for one of two teams for the all star game

•            4hospitality packages for the all star game

•          On field presentation at one first team home game and the all star match to introduce sponsor

•          Half page programme advertisement for the all star game

Silver Sponsors £1000 (10 available)

•            Sponsor logo on shirt sleeve for Walk to Wembley

•            Sponsor logo to appear on rear window of walk support vehicle

•          Logo on web articles for duration of walk

•          2 hospitality packages and 4 Executive Box match tickets for the all star game

•          On field presentation at the all star match to introduce sponsor

•            Quarter page programme advertisement for the all star game

Bronze Sponsors £500 (20 available)

•            Commemorative walk shirt signed by celebrities

•            Sponsor logo to appear on roof rail of walk support vehicle

•          Logo on web articles for duration of walk

•          2 passes for VIP lounge and 6 Executive Box match tickets for the all star game

•          On field presentation at the all star match to introduce sponsor

•            Sponsor acknowledgement in programme for the all star game

Individual Sponsorship:

Download my sponsorship form here and take it to your friends, family and co-workers.

Donations:

Either in cash at the Ticket Office or cheques made payable to ‘Cambridge United Youth Development’

Bid for Shirts:

We have a number of signed football shirts kindly donated by Premiership and Championship clubs. We will be auctioning them from now until the end of the walk on Ebay. The auction will be linked from www.cambridgeunited.com.  

Please contact me on 01223 729207 or email info@cambridge-united.co.uk  if you would like to discuss the way in which you can be involved.

Thank you for your support.

Jez.

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