A 15-YEAR-OLD Oxford United fan is set to put in the miles for his favourite team as the 12th Man fund nears the end of its first season.
Scott Humphries, from Steventon, near Abingdon, will spend the Easter weekend cycling 60 miles back to the Kassam Stadium from Oxford’s away game with Hayes and Yeading.
He expects to finish his challenge in time for the Easter Monday home tie with Salisbury.
Scott, a pupil at St Birinus School, Didcot, has already been pledged £200. He said: “I will be cycling wearing Oxford United kit, on mainly minor roads on a carefully planned route.
“I will spread the journey back to Oxford over the days of the holiday weekend, shadowed and supported by my family in a car.”
He added: “When I was thinking about what sort of organisation to do this for, I thought of the 12th Man straight away.
“I thought of Hayes to Oxford because of the weekend games, and I hope to finish just before the home game against Salisbury on Easter Monday.
“I hope it will help the 12th Man a little bit.”
Fans’ spokesman Trevor Lambert said: “It’s great to see younger fans like Scott coming forward and helping the 12th Man fund.
“He’s taking on a significant challenge and fans will wish him well, and success in his fundraising. We’ll look forward to seeing him back on Easter Monday.”
United chairman Kelvin Thomas added: “This is another great effort and we wish Scott the best of luck.
“It has been great to see so many fans, of all ages, getting behind the 12th Man Fund and we look forward to welcoming him back.”
OxVox spokesman Mark Sennett said: “We’ve got a meeting at the end of April with the club and various fans to discuss the future of the fund.
“That group of 40 or so people will talk about what the pros and cons have been, but in my opinion I cannot see why we wouldn’t want to carry it on next season.
“It has been a huge success and has helped the fans feel part of the success we’ve had this season.
“Obviously everyone’s entitled to their own opinions about individual players, but every player has contributed and it’s a squad game.
“It has allowed the manager to bring in players he normally couldn’t have done and allowed him to strengthen when there have been injuries.”
To sponsor Scott, look out for collection buckets at the Salisbury home game on Easter Monday or visit oxvox.org.uk tairs@oxfordmail.co.uk
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