Football fanatic Andy Cranch is lacing up his boots for the ultimate charity challenge – completing 1,000 keepie-uppies at all 92 League clubs. The 58-year-old is plotting a whistle-stop tour of the country – starting at Cambridge United’s Abbey Stadium on 9th May – and hopes to raise £7,000 for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).
His fortnight-long challenge will see him head South, before dipping into Wales and then travelling North before finishing at Ipswich Town’s Portman Road on 20th May. At every club he will complete 1,000 keepie-uppies – a feat he expects to complete in 15 minutes.
He will then jump back in his car and move onto his next port of call.
“I’m excited and looking forward to it,” said Andy, who lives in Cambridge. I’ve always wanted to visit all 92 clubs and couldn’t think of a better way to do it, meeting football friends along the way while at the same time supporting the wonderful EACH.
“I just hope the public get behind me, because I’m hoping to raise as much as possible. It’s a local charity and a very special cause – one everyone is aware of and feels strongly about. It’s an institution in this part of the world.
“EACH has touched, helped and supported so many people and if I can do anything to help, then I most definitely will. The keepie-uppies are the easy bit – it’s like riding a bike to me.
“The hardest part will be the travelling around and undoubtedly there will be a few logistical issues along the way, but nothing we can’t sort out.”
Andy, who will be joined by wife Ali, was on the books at Exeter City as a youngster before drifting into non-league football and playing for Histon, Cambridge City, Shelford and Ely City. He is player-manager of the Over-55 England Veterans and represented England’s Seniors at the 2022 World Cup, in Thailand.
He is no stranger to football-themed challenges and completed a special one during lockdown, after being inspired by schoolgirl Imogen Papworth-Heidel. The 12-year-old wanted to do a keepie-uppie for every key worker in the country.
Her dad calculated there were 7.1 million key workers so it would take 96 years. Instead, she asked others to join her and do their own keepie-uppies. Andy completed more than a million!
He has set himself a target of £7,000 for this challenge – the amount it costs to run each of the three hospices, per day – and has a special connection as sister-in-law Jules Gibson-Cranch is Locality Wellbeing Lead at The Treehouse, in Ipswich.
Andy, who owns Banquet Inn mobile bar and Crofters ice cream and coffee shop at Lammas Land, in Newnham Park, recently paid a visit to the EACH hospice at Milton, where he was shown around by Community Fundraiser Helena Davis.
“Going to the hospice was a real experience and underlined the reasons why I want to take on this challenge,” he said.
“It’s a special place and it was also a real privilege to meet so many great people who work there. Everyone is so passionate and dedicated to the charity and that shines through in all the conversations I’ve had.
“It’s spurred me on and I feel completely motivated. It’s going to be an amazing experience and I dearly hope everyone gets behind me and offers their support. I’m grateful for all donations and sponsorship, no matter how big and small. Every contribution is vital and appreciated.”
Andy plans to post daily updates and photos on his Twitter feed (@cranch_andy), using the hashtag #EACK 92. To sponsor him, head here.
Andy’s schedule is as follows:
Tuesday, 9th May: Cambridge United, Norwich City, Colchester United, Gillingham and Crawley Town.
Wednesday, 10th May: Brighton and Hove Albion, Portsmouth, Southampton, Bournemouth, Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City.
Thursday, 11th May: Bristol City, Bristol Rovers, Swansea City, Cardiff City, Newport County, Forest Green Rovers, Cheltenham Town and Swindon Town.
Friday, 12th May: Oxford United, Reading, Wycombe Wanderers, Stevenage, Luton Town, MK Dons, Northampton Town and Coventry City.
Saturday, 13th May: Aston Villa, Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion, Walsall, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Shrewsbury Town, Stoke City, Port Vale, Crewe Alexandra, Tranmere Rovers, Everton and Liverpool.
Sunday, 14th May: Stockport County, Manchester City, Manchester United, Salford City, Rochdale, Bolton Wanderers, Wigan Athletic, Burnley, Accrington Stanley, Blackburn Rovers, Preston North End and Fleetwood Town.
Monday, 15th May: Morecambe, Barrow, Carlisle United, Newcastle United, Sunderland, Hartlepool United and Harrogate Town.
Tuesday, 16th May: Bradford City, Leeds United, Huddersfield Town, Barnsley, Hull City, Grimsby Town and Doncaster Rovers.
Wednesday, 17th May: Rotherham United, Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United, Mansfield Town, Nottingham Forest, Derby County, Burton Albion, Leicester City, Lincoln City and Peterborough United.
Thursday, 18th May: Tottenham Hotspur, Leyton Orient, West Ham United, Charlton Athletic, Millwall, Crystal Palace, Sutton United and AFC Wimbledon.
Friday, 19th May: Chelsea, Fulham, Brentford, QPR, Arsenal and Watford.
Saturday, 20th May: Ipswich Town.
