Get your mates together and ride for Barnsley FC in 2016!
We are delighted to announce that Barnsley FC has been chosen as a start location for the 2016 Football to Amsterdam Challenge!
Prostate Cancer UK, the Official Charity Partner of The Football League, will stage its fourth annual football fundraiser from June 3-5, 2016 - prostatecanceruk.org/amsterdam – and there are now not one but two Grand Departs, with riders able to roll out from London and a new start point right here at Oakwell, the home of Barnsley FC!
Earlier this year a 250-strong peloton including former football stars Terry Butcher, Matt Holland, Luther Blissett, and Simon Grayson, not to mention riders representing clubs throughout The Football League – and beyond - raised more than £350,000 by cycling from London to Amsterdam.
After a successful three years riding from London to Amsterdam, which has raised more than half a million pounds for the charity, the event will start from two locations in 2016, one from the Olympic Park in Stratford and a new northern leg kicking off here at Oakwell, with the field converging in Amsterdam at the end.
The Northern leg will depart Oakwell following the Dearne Valley and take riders through the scenic Yorkshire countryside, past Doncaster Rovers’ Keepmoat Stadium and complete the first day’s ride in Hull where they will get the overnight ferry to Rotterdam.
The Southern leg – London to Amsterdam - remains similar to last year’s ride, yet will switch across East London to a new start at the iconic Olympic Park in East London. The cyclists will peddle through the streets of East London until they break free into the beautiful Essex countryside, past Colchester United’s Weston Homes Community Stadium to finish the first day’s ride in Harwich.
The second day will continue along the picturesque pathways of the Netherlands before the two Men United pelotons converge at the iconic Amsterdam ArenA, home of Dutch giants Ajax.
A group of Barnsley supporters raised £5,362 on the sold out 2015 Challenge and they are looking forward to being part of an even bigger team representing the Reds in 2016! Registration is now open and we are calling on Reds fans to sign up and represent the Club next year! Even if you've never got on a bike before, don't worry, with the right training you'll be ready for the challenge! This year's event sold out early so we'd encourage any Barnsley fans who are interested in taking part next year to sign up as soon as possible.
The event runs a week before Euro 2016, from June 3-5, 2016 and registrations are NOW OPEN with early bird prices for the 2016 Challenge priced at just £99. For more information about the ride and to register your place, please visit prostatecanceruk.org/amsterdam. Alternatively you can contact the cycling team by calling 020 8222 7158 or by emailing cycling@prostatecanceruk.org. You can also e-mail Rob Davies at the Club via rob.davies@barnsleyfc.co.uk, who is recruiting fans to ride for Team Barnsley in 2016!
