A FOOTBALL-mad family from Cricklade visited every stadium in the Football League to keep lesser-abled children smiling.

Martin Lane, his parents-in-law Sue and Dave Loder, and family friend Simon Ward took on the epic challenge to raise funds for new play equipment in Paternoster School’s sensory garden.

Martin’s nephew and Simon’s godson George Poole, who has severe autism, attends the school in Watermoor Road, Cirencester.

The team completed ‘the 92’ – named for the number of stadiums in the challenge – behind the wheel of a Suzuki S-Cross from Swindon motor dealer Pebley Beach.

The 92 is a challenge completed by football fans who aim to watch a match at every one of the Football League’s 92 stadiums, from Accrington Stanley to York City.

But the Cricklade team set themselves the challenge of visiting every stadium within 72 hours.

After being handed the keys to their Suzuki by MD Dominic Threlfall at Pebley Beach, the team set off to meet the children at Paternoster School, before motoring down the M4 to start the challenge at the grounds of Bristol Rovers and Bristol City on Friday, September 18.

 


 

They then spent the next three days on the road, before finishing their epic journey at midnight on Sunday, September 21, at County Ground in Swindon. Their route took them south as far as Plymouth, west to Swansea, north to Carlisle and Newcastle Upon Tyne and east to Norwich.

 


 

At each stadium they took a ‘selfie’, which was posted on Twitter at @LaneMjlane72 allowing supporters to follow their progress in real-time.

 


 

Dominic Threlfall said: “We love our football here at Pebley Beach, and are sponsors of Swindon Town and Supermarine. ‘The 92’ was a novel challenge for an excellent cause, and we were happy to support it.”