TWO football fans who pledged to walk to Oldham Athletic’s first home game from their opponent’s ground have been left sick as parrots – after it emerged they face a 250-mile trek!

Phill Higgins and Andrew Durrans set themselves the challenge in aid of Dr Kershaw’s Hospice.

So when the fixture list was announced the pals were hoping for a Greater Manchester derby with Stockport, or maybe a short hop across the Pennines to Huddersfield.

But the football computer had other ideas and pitched the Latics against League One rivals Millwall from London.

Phill, a 24-year-old warehouse worker, explained: "We were in the pub one night and decided to raise some money for Dr Kershaw’s Hospice. I’ve had two uncles in there and think they do a great job for people with terminal illnesses.

"We were thinking of ways to raise money and said we would walk to Oldham from the ground of whoever they were playing on the first day of the season. I was fuming when it ended up as Millwall, but we said we’d do it and we’ve got used to the idea now."

The Latics fanatics will be driven to London tomorrow, eight days before the opener.

They will then walk about 25 miles each day, stopping at hotels each night.

Hopefully they will be back in time for the match, where they will be presented to the crowd – blisters and all – before the kick-off.

Andrew, 24, who works for a logistics firm, said they had both been training hard for their week-long pilgrimage.

He said: "We’re doing a few miles each day and are looking at stepping it up now. We’ve set a target of £5,000 but we’re just trying to raise as much as we can.

"We’ve had lots of advice, the main thing is not to stop for too long and make sure we wear comfortable footwear. Hopefully, when we get there the team will walk the ball in at the match."

Alan Hardy, Latics’ chief executive, said: "We think it’s a fantastic effort to raise money for a worthwhile cause.

"I know they had already decided to walk and it was just unfortunate that it came out with Millwall, but they seem to have everything planned."

Anyone who wishes to sponsor the pair can do so at: www.justgiving.com/millwalloldham

A SECOND group of Oldham Athletic fans will soon be ‘marching on together’ – in memory of Ernie Cooksey.

The supporters will complete a 32-mile sponsored walk from Oldham to Leeds ahead of the League One clash against the Yorkshire side on Saturday, August 16.

They will be working up their blisters to raise money for the wife, and new-born child, of former player Ernie Cooksey who recently died of skin cancer.

Orgainser, Carl Spiers said: "We will meet outside the White Hart in Royton at 6pm on the Friday, and from there we’ll be walking through Oldham town centre, up Huddersfield Road, through Marsden, Huddersfield and Batley, before arriving at Elland Road around midday the following day."

Carl (pictured) would like local businesses to sponsor walkers and providing supplies.

He said: "As well as medication, food and drink, we also need to hire transport to get us all back. If anyone can help we would love to hear from them."

Anyone wanting to take part in the walk must register their interest by the end of this week. They, and sponsors, can call Carl on 07716 845511.

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