Stourbridge fan Charlie, 8, to visit 22 football grounds for charity as trip back on
An eight-year-old from the Black Country is set to visit 22 football clubs to raise money for charity – after the challenge was postponed due to coronavirus.
Charlie Moulsdale, who supports Stourbridge FC and plays for their under eight's team, was set to travel to all Southern Premier Central grounds on April 6.
But the mammoth 24-hour journey, which aimed to raise money for anti-racist football charity Kick It Out, was cancelled as lockdown restrictions were imposed.
Now the youngster, who runs YouTube channel CharlieFooty11, is set to take on the challenge this Saturday, starting at Lowestoft Town FC.
Charlie's father, Ian Moulsdale, lives with wife Emily and Charlie in Penn, having previously lived in Wombourne and Kingswinford, where the youngsters started supporting The Glassboys.
Watch one of Charlie's videos:
Mr Moulsdale said: "It was all planned and near enough ready to go – we just had to alter the timings, really. He's doing Stourbridge FC's league and there's 22 teams in the league.
"So we're visiting all those teams in that league spread across the county – with the furthest being Lowestock Town FC where we're starting and there's lots to visit as we make our way across the Midlands.
"We've got around 15 minutes at each ground, where Charlie is going to film a bit for his YouTube, a couple of hours rest in the early hours and two hours spare. It's quite tight for timings."
The 35-year-old said the youngster had been disappointed with cancelling the challenge, but stressed it was the only option available as the rules were imposed.
The journey will see Ian and Charlie cover more than 500 miles in a Mercedes Vito van and aim to raise around £1,000 for Kick It Out, with the charity chosen due to racism being a "big issue" in football.
The trip will see them visit grounds such as Hednesford Town, Banbury United in Oxfordshire, Kings Langley FC in Hertfordshire before ending at 8pm at Stourbridge FC the following day.
Charlie – who also supports Liverpool – was inspired by seeing people visit all the Premier League football grounds in 24 hours.
Steven Beech, marketing manager for The Glassboys, said: "I'm really pleased for Charlie that he will now be able to complete this challenge – it was his idea, and it was disappointing that he couldn't do this at Easter, as initially planned.
"Charlie is a great character, loves his football, and is a very, very popular supporter of this football club - he epitomises everything Stourbridge Football Club is about.
"I've known his mom and dad for a very long time, and I'm sure they've had plenty of reminders throughout the lockdown that a new date needed to be set as soon as physically possible.
"Millsy (Greg Mills) is Charlie's favourite player, they get on well together, so I'm sure Greg will be digging deep into those pockets of his to support Charlie with this magnificent effort."
Almost £700 has been raised so far for Kick It Out.
To donate, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/charliefooty11kickitout
