Bolton boss Phil Parkinson and assistant Steve Parkin will be part of a ten-man team taking part in a fundraising challenge to raise money for the Stephen Darby Foundation this weekend.
Darby announced his retirement from the professional game last September at the age of just 29, after sadly being diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
The news understandably shell-shocked Darby and his family, with Parkinson, as well as assistant Steve Parkin, lending their support to the former Bolton, Liverpool and Blackburn defender.
They will set off in Workington on Friday, May 17 and will undergo a 136-mile ‘Coast to Coast’ bike ride to Tynemouth.
2
Darby was forced into retirement in September after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease
Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT, the Trotters boss said: “We’re going to do a bike ride at the weekend.
“Steve Parkin and several of his friends came up with the idea, and Tim Breacker and myself have joined in with it.
“There’s 10 of us in total who are going to start off at Workington and do the ‘Coast to Coast’ ride to Tynemouth.
“We’ve been in training and it’s been going really well. We all started off at a low base cycling experience, but we’re looking forward to doing it and it’s for a fantastic cause.
“Stephen is about to launch his foundation, so this has been about raising as much money as possible to give him a good base to start and help other people who have this terrible illness.
That brief has certainly been met so far, with around £20,000 raised from the JustGiving page and Darby’s own fundraising efforts.
Parkinson added: “Stephen was a great player for me at Bradford and Bolton. He was a fantastic character and an amazing professional.
Getty
2
Parkinson managed Darby at both Bolton and Bradford
“If you go on YouTube you’ll find a video of him totally dedicated to his goal-line clearances. It was incredible how many goals he saved by being in the right place in the right time.
“He was a brilliant defender and an outstanding reader of the game. He was particularly strong in one-on-one situations.
“He was a real unsung hero for Bradford and had a great relationship with the fan base.
Explaining the thinking behind the challenge, Parkin said: “My friends at the Sherwood Ranger Pub in Carlton-in-Lindrick, Worksop, decided it would be a great idea to do the ‘Coast to Coast’ – Workington to Tynemouth, 136 miles – take or leave a wrong turn on the 17th, 18th & 19th of May 2019.
MOST READ IN FOOTBALL
gossip
Transfer news LIVE: Hazard on joining Real Madrid, Sessegnon to leave Fulham
gossip
Chelsea transfer news live: Hazard addresses Blues fans following Real Madrid move
ALLEZ LES BLEUES
France sweep aside South Korea in opening match of 2019 Women's World Cup
PRICELESS POINT
Late Duffy header keeps Ireland unbeaten in Euro 2020 qualifying campaign
DEAL DONE
Real Madrid confirm Eden Hazard signing to end long-running transfer saga
THANK YOU
These Chelsea fans pour their hearts out for 'true legend' Eden Hazard
in the money
Hazard joins Real Madrid and will reportedly double his wages
LET'S GO
Women's World Cup opening ceremony: The best pictures from the party in Paris
“Being in our 50’s we feel it’s a real challenge because none of us are keen cyclists but if we show the Stephen Darby spirit, we will get over the finishing line.
“So, myself, Phil Parkinson (Bolton Wanderers manager), Kev Hunter, Paul Bailey, Ross Murdoch, Tony Morris, Tim Breaker (Luton, West Ham, QPR), Chris Caulton, Dave Cutts and Paul Barnett supported by Paul O’Neil and Paul Gibson on logistics are going to being doing just that.
“For everybody who knows us could you please give generously for Stephen’s Foundation, everybody from Football and beyond can really help and support us get up those hills.
“Stephen is going to set us off in Workington, which is a real boost for our moral, as we will probably need it!
To make a donation to the Stephen Darby Foundation, head to their fundraising page.
Jadon Sancho transfer: Borussia Dortmund issue Man Utd warning over England star. The German club are said to have no interest in selling any of their players they deem to have 'Dortmund DNA'
Jadon Sancho will need to be patient at Borussia Dortmund
~ Referee Mike Dean celebrates Tranmere reaching League Two play-off final in crowd with fans ~ Kenya Latest
Premier League referee Mike Dean wildly celebrates Tranmere
Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi should be joined by a Man City star, says Micky Gray (Pic: GETTY) Foden has broken into the City first team this season, with six goals in 23 appearances. And the 18-year-old has already tasted glory for his country, winning the U17 World Cup two years ago. And Gray believes his lack of game time should not be a factor.
News list for germany leave it late to end young england's
Player of the weekend: Celtic captain Scott Brown earns Sergio Ramos comparisons after causing Rangers to capitulate in fiery Old Firm clash. as being 'Better than Sergio Ramos' at winding
~ Player of the weekend: Celtic captain Scott Brown earns
Leeds striker Patrick Bamford has been banned for two matches by the Football Association after being found guilty of "successful deception of a match official" in the draw with Aston Villa
Leeds United news: Patrick Bamford handed two-match ban for
Maurizio Sarri insists he will fight to remain Chelsea manager despite fans chanting for him to be sacked during their controversial 2-1 win at Cardiff City on Sunday.
The 6 chants Maurizio Sarri had to endure during Chelsea's
overconfident The Reds completed a remarkable comeback at Anfield thanks to doubles from Divock Origi and Georginio Wijnaldum One Catalan newspaper UK News | World News | Latest News | Sports | Latest Nigerian News
Liverpool Stuns Barcelona to Advance to Champions League
Transfer news and all the latest gossip from the Premier League and beyond the likes of AC Milan, Inter and Lille if they want to sign of Eden Hazard and Paul
NewsNow: Real Madrid Transfer News news | Breaking News 24/7
Arsenal vs Brighton: Some Gunners fans think Unai Emery has 'given up on top four' with his selection of Stephan Lichtsteiner at right-back by: 161385360554578 — Talk Sport 5 May
The inside story of how Arsenal blew a top four finish as
Fantasy Football Tips: Which players to buy, axe and captain for Gameweek 8? WHO should you transfer in and out of your Fantasy Premier League team ahead of Gameweek 8? By James Phillips
It's that time of the year. With the 2018/19 season coming to a close, Premier League clubs have been using the time to hand out their Player of the Year awards. Here is the collation of every
Every Premier League Club's Player of the 2018/19 Season
No comments:
Post a Comment