Throughout the remainder of February, we have set current and prospective students the challenge of running to every ESPFA club, from our Headquarters in Manchester.
As well as virtually visiting all 17 ESPFA clubs, we will also be making a visit to the Etihad Stadium and concluding at the iconic Wembley Stadium, the two UK campuses of our Higher Education Partners, UCFB. This route, with its 20 Check-Points, covers 1,018km
Our students have been asked to record their running efforts on the Strava App and post them on social media, making sure they tag @ESPFAcademy in their post and use the #TeamESPFA.
This running challenge is part of the 10-week programme that has been put together to ensure our students are staying mentally and physically fit throughout this current lockdown. Along with the Road to Wembley, our students will also be taking part in home workouts that have been specifically tailored to keep athletes at their peak level of fitness, skills challenges, home cooking demonstrations and much more.
Sam Shaw, the regional manager for the North believes it is important for the students to remain in some form of competition to keep active over the lockdown.
He said: "Obviously these long periods of lockdown are tough for everyone but particularly our students, who are really missing football and generally speaking, some form of competition.
With that in mind, we’re working hard behind the scenes to provide as many exciting and engaging activities, events and competitions, to give everyone something to work towards and look forward to.
We can’t wait to see everyone get involved, clock up those miles and start that positive snowball effect which will only benefit them, when football returns."
Good luck to everyone taking part!