Aylesbury man to walk to every EFL stadium in London for Kit Aid

Chris Turton, who lives in the town but works in Lane End, will walk to every Football League stadium in London across three days in support of Kit Aid – a not-for-profit organisation that sends surplus football shirts to the most impoverished areas in Africa.

The journey will last three days with the 49-year-old starting at the Emirates Stadium, which is the home of his beloved Arsenal, before heading clockwise around the capital.

Visits to Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Brentford and Chelsea from the Premier League are all on Chris’ list, along with stops to Millwall and Queens Park Rangers of the Championship, Charlton Athletic and Leyton Orient of League One, and Sutton United and AFC Wimbledon of League Two respectively.

What the first day will look like (Image: NA)

The walk will then conclude with a pilgrimage to Wembley Stadium – the home of English football.

The Arsenal fan said: “I’m turning 50 at the end of this year and I want to try and do something memorable for charity.

“I love football and I love walking, so it seemed like a good idea to combine the two to raise money for a great charity like Kit Aid.

What the second day will look like (Image: NA)

“To walk nearly 70 miles in three days does sound very daunting, but my group and I are up for it.

"It'll be a challenge but we very much can’t wait for it and if anyone sees us on the walk, you’re more than welcome to join us – it’s open to everyone.”

Chris and his chums will start their journey at 8am on Wednesday, March 20 by meeting at the Emirates, before heading over to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – the largest ground in the city that’s home to a professional club (excluding Wembley).

Some of the furthest distances the group will walk will be between Charlton Athletic (The Valley) and West Ham United (The London Stadium), with that journey taking roughly two hours and 40 minutes.

Another long trek will be between Crystal Palace (Selhurst Park) and Sutton United (Gander Green Lane), which will take around two-and-a-half hours.

On the flip side, one of the shortest journeys will be from Chelsea (Stamford Bridge) and Craven Cottage (Fulham), with the two stadiums being separated by approximately 30 minutes on foot.

Chris continued: “I got involved with Kit Aid during the pandemic and the work they do is brilliant.

What the third day will look like (Image: NA)

“They get kits from all over the country from Non League to the Premier League and they’ve all found a new home in Africa.

“It’s great to see.”

As part of his preparation, the 49-year-old has walked from his home in Aylesbury to his place of work in Lane End which is around 20 miles.

He is also aiming to raise £1,000 for the charity, with £240 being donated so far.

To contribute, go to www.justgiving.com/page/chris-turton-james-andteam1705612763068.