Why Football to Amsterdam makes sense for me, by Simon Milton
My name is Simon Milton. I’m a former Ipswich Town player and these days I’m the club’s Academy Sponsorship Director. I’m responsible for raising money to support our next generation of first team players, and I work with a range of local and national businesses to make this happen.
I also work with Prostate Cancer UK, the Official Charity Partner of The EFL. When they approached the club to enter a team on their Football to Amsterdam Challenge fundraiser, I spotted an opportunity to support the charity and significantly benefit the club I’ve played and worked for nearly 30 years.
In 2014, I recruited a team to join me on the cycle ride from Leyton Orient’s stadium in east London to the Ajax ArenA in Amsterdam, via a ferry ride from Harwich to the hook of Holland. It’s about 145 miles over two days. And each rider in my team raises money for the charity and money to support the Ipswich Town Academy.
I was so impressed with the whole event and the way it was organised and delivered I have now attended every ride since. In 2015 I led a team of 67 TEAMITFC cyclists to Amsterdam.
In 2016 we had 40 riders taking part as the expanded Football to Amsterdam ride started from three venues, London, Barnsley and Portman Road.
In the last three years we’ve raised over £150,000 for Prostate Cancer UK and you will see below I've saved our chairman money which he can invest in the first team or other areas of the football club.