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The Beautiful Game Tour Crosses 1,000 Miles in Honour of Sir Bobby Charlton
The Beautiful Game Tour has officially reached a major milestone, passing 1,000 miles as John Shiels, a trustee of the Sir Bobby Charlton Foundation, and his team arrive at Gillingham this Monday to mark their 63rd club visit.
The ongoing journey sees John and his team cycling to all 88 professional clubs in England and 4 in Wales. Undertaken after a lifetime dedicated to football, including his role as former CEO of the Manchester United Foundation, the initiative shines a light on the vital grassroots work clubs do within their communities while campaigning to address the growing lack of free, safe spaces for children to play.
What an incredible journey it has been. With every gruelling mile ticked off, this tour has transformed into something far greater than we could have imagined. At every single stop, John and the team have witnessed firsthand the phenomenal, heartbeat-of-the-community work happening nationwide.
A truly unforgettable highlight came when John was met by Suzanne Charlton in Stevenage, sharing a deeply moving moment as she reflected on how her mum and dad would be proud of the extraordinary work achieved by the tour so far.
Every mile covered fuels the vital fundraising and advocacy work of the Sir Bobby Charlton Foundation. Together, we are championing a crucial mission: ensuring all children have a safe space to play, trusted mentors, and life-changing opportunities every child deserves.
The journey continues as John and the team keep Sir Bobby’s legacy alive. Support their mission and help create safer, brighter futures for children by making a donation to the Sir Bobby Charlton Foundation today.