More than 400 miles were clocked up as scores of Wetheriggs United players — past and present — tackled a 24-hour relay challenge to raise money for the club.
Held on Castletown rec, it started at 6pm last Friday and continued until 6pm on Saturday.
Wetheriggs chairman Barry Turner said: “Over 70 lads and lasses each ran a 20-minute leg and gave or raised money to refurbish the changing rooms and the hall at the community centre.
“More than 400 miles were run in total and some £3,000 raised by many former, current and future players — a great effort!
“It all came from an idea from new team managers Andy Murray-Jones and Andy Mills to make the place welcoming, bring some life back into the centre and use it more.
“They have hatched plans to make this happen. Their enthusiasm is infectious and the members have certainly bought into this. Long may it continue.”
Barry added: “The club has been struggling for a few years due to lack of involvement, and if it hadn’t been for former chairman Peter Brookes, secretary Colin Parker and club manager Tom Barclay, this club would not be here.
“In particular, Tom’s commitment is admirable and he has brought in Andy Murray-Jones to manage the first team and Andy Mills to take on the second team.
“Tom’s young boys are getting more involved in soccer and his time is more limited for the right reasons.
“I have personally followed the fortunes of Wetheriggs since 1968, just prior to my teens, when ‘Tubby’ Rich’s team won the second division of the Westmorland League at the first time of asking, having moved up from junior football and Peter Brookes was right back.
“They strapped the nets to rectangular shaped goalposts and freshened the lines with sawdust for every game on Penrith’s former rugby pitch on foundry field.
“They also won the Mason and Freeman Cup in that season and went on to win the first division a couple of years later.
“There have been many trophies for the club and great times since then, and although the last few seasons have been relatively barren I can see that success is not far away — no pressure intended!”
