I'll walk on for my team, says hiker Rob (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Rob Grillo aims to raise cash for Silsden AFC

1:53pm Saturday 2nd January 2010 in News By Clive White

A Bradford teacher is to tackle a marathon a day for ten days to raise cash to enable a football team to play at its own ground.

Rob Grillo is taking on the 268-mile Pennine Way, between Edale in Derbyshire and Kirk Yetholm in Scotland, from July 27.

He hopes it will help Silsden AFC raise £40,000.

The club, which plays in the North West County League, holds its matches at Keighley Cougars’ ground, because its own site in Silsden is not suitable.

It has no flood-lighting or hard standing for fans at the ground in Keighley Road, but the club is determined to improve the state of the stadium.

The Football Association has agreed to match half of the £80,000 funding it will cost to bring the ground up to scratch. Mr Grillo, who teaches at Belle Vue Girls’ School in Heaton, Bradford, said he was determined to help the club after years of helping national and international campaigns.

He said: “In recent years I’ve climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, trekked to Everest Base Camp in the Himalayas and tackled high mountain passes in the Alps, raising money for various charities around the world.

“But this year I wanted to do something a little closer to home.

“Silsden AFC’s senior team is the first Keighley side ever to play in the football pyramid, and to enter the FA Cup.

“This is due partly to the generosity of Keighley Cougars RLFC which has allowed them to play at Cougar Park for the past six seasons.

“The club already runs dozens of junior teams from under eights through to under 17s which compete in local leagues.

“These are all based at the Keighley Road playing fields.

“It has now come to the stage that unless Silsden return ‘home’ they will be unable to compete at their current level. They just can’t afford another season at Cougars.”

Mr Grillo intends to run for the first three days then take it more slowly, armed with a lightweight tent and stove So far he has had pledges of sponsorship from friends and colleagues, sportsmen and women, several local musicians and the leader of Bradford Council, Councillor Kris Hopkins.

People wanting to sponsor Mr Grillo should contact him at rob@robgrillo.co.uk.

e-mail: clive.white@telegraphandargus.co.uk