AN UNLIKELY bond between supporters of Premier League giants Newcastle United and Isthmian League Hanwell Town is going to benefit the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.
The charity set up by the former Magpies and England and manager announced that they are to hold their first ever ‘Sir Bobby Football Run’ as they challenge supporters to match the 10km ran by Premier League players during top-flight fixtures.
Hanwell striker Gareth Chendlik is set to take part in the challenge after Magpies supporters supported the Step 4 club in a competition to find the best nickname in Non-League football.
The Reynolds Field outfit are nicknamed the Geordies after they were founded by a number of north-east railway workers that moved to the capital in 1920.
In return for the support shown by Newcastle fans, Chendlik is set to extend the target to 100km as he looks to raise funds for the cancer charity, which has raised over £15 million since it was formed in 2008.
Chendlik – who has scored 33 goals in almost 100 appearances for the Geordies – said: “I love the idea of the Football Run. It’s given me something to commit to and focus on now that our season has been curtailed, as well as supporting such a brilliant charity.
“I run a lot anyway so wanted to challenge myself and up my game a bit and go for the big 100.
“During the first lockdown all of our players ran between 5-10km each to raise money for our club, so maybe we’ll get them all doing Sir Bobby’s Football Run next.”
Elsa Jones, Hanwell Town’s head of marketing, said: “Because of all the interest in us from Newcastle fans, we thought the Football Run was a great thing to get involved in and obviously Gareth’s really taken up the challenge.”
