Features

By Stuart Croll (NonLeagueToday)

Many football fans "sing" they will walk a million miles for one of their team's goals but two Hendon fans are actually walking 500 miles this season to watch their side.
Paul McGreal and his fiancé Jacqui Cox have vowed to walk that distance ­ just like the Proclaimers song ­ in order to raise funds and publicity for the club.

And its not the easiest time to be a Hendon supporter especially with the recent closure of their Claremont Road ground. But when the couple decided to embark on this idea Hendon still had a home ground. Paul explains: "It all started in a drunken haze at the end of last season, myself and Jacqui had been planning to do something for the Hendon Supporters trust as we are both active members.

Proclaim it!

"The Proclaimers song 500 Miles came on and that's what we rather stupidly decided to do - It's a little different form a one-off sponsored walk."

The couple have so far walked 132.5 miles and are hopeful of having walked 300 miles by Boxing Day. Their first overnight walk was an eventful 42-mile trip to Maidstone United. They left their Kennington home on Friday night and during the middle of the night where they were pelted with eggs going through Dartford.

They managed to get some sleep in Paul's uncle's car in Ebbsfleet FC's car park ­and got to the game on time 17 hours and five minutes after they had set out. They have so far raised more than £1,500 for the club and hope to continue throughout the season.

For the fans, by the fans

Paul said: "It seems more important now as the Supporters Club should be taking over the running of the club." With the closure of the ground Hendon will play at Wembley FC's ground from next season and Paul remains positive about the team's future.
He said; "We always knew it would happen one day that Claremont Road would close but it was still sad and depressing when it did happen. But the team and club continues and you have to be upbeat."

The 32-year-old's love affair with Hendon goes back 20 years. He said: "My dad first took me to watch Hendon back when Iain Dowie still played for us." He is a member of the supporters trust board, is manager of the Hendon under-15s team and is currently centre-half for the supporters' team.

His favourite Hendon players over the years ­are Bontcho Guentchev, Junior Lewis, Paul Whitmarsh and Uche Egbe.

Why I'm a Hendon fan

New Zealander Jacqui's love of Hendon is all down to Paul. She started supporting The Greens in 2003, is a member of the Supporters Trust and is one of the assistant-managers to the supporters' team.

For the first 13 games she watched Hendon she never saw the team lose.
In a turbulent season for Hendon fans the actions of Paul and Jacqui should be applauded. You can follow their efforts and check on sponsorship opportunities on their website www.500milewalk.com