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HUDDERSFIELD TOWN: Town had better win or you'll be on your bike Lee...
NEW chairman Dean Hoyle's desire to raise money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance will take him on a 232-mile bike ride to Southend United on the opening day of the season.
But he's hoping to return home happy after threatening manager Lee Clark with the return bike journey if the Terriers are not successful!
Hoyle announced his intentions to cycle to Town's first game of next season long before the 2009/10 League One fixtures had been decided.
The fixtures man is unlikely to be on Hoyle's Christmas card list after the Galpharm Stadium chief was handed one of the longest journeys possible, bar Exeter City and Yeovil Town.
At 20.3 miles, a leisurely ride to Elland Road would have been a walk in the park by comparison.
Instead, for all Town fans, a long trek is in order come Saturday, August 8 and supporters travelling by car or rail can even expect a good few hours' journey.
That's like travelling on Concorde compared to Hoyle, who is planning to break his journey into three bite-size legs over three separate days.
He is guaranteed to suffer some saddle soreness and admits, from a football perspective, his side had better win to make his efforts worthwhile!
If not, Terriers boss Clark will, quite literally, be on his bike – though not for good!
"I've told Lee if he doesn't' get three points, I am coming back on the coach and he can cycle back up," Hoyle told Yorkshire Sport.
"That's a deal. Absolutely! He is coming back up on the bike if we don't get the points.
"To be honest, before the fixtures came out, out of 24 teams there were only four teams less than a 100 miles away.
"I think Southend is a long way, but it's achievable.
"We hope we don't get a headwind and the conditions are OK, but I am looking forward to it.
"I doubted Leeds would be our first game, though maybe over the hills to Tranmere or Oldham would have been nice, but we're at Southend instead.
"The nice thing is other people have now mentioned about going on the bike ride as well.
"The interest has been fantastic and people are donating their cash all the time so it's good, very good."
Hoyle initially planned on undertaking the long one-way journey with just commercial director Sean Jarvis and match-day announcer Paul Ramsden, but it seems many Terriers fans are set to join the fund-raising trek.
The Huddersfield supremo admits he will be watching his waist over the summer.
"I think we are going to have to do a little bit of training and the unfortunate thing is I'll have my holidays before so I'll have to watch what I eat!" said Hoyle.
"Generally, the plans are going well, we hope to take some people down with us and we'll do our best.
"I play five a side a couple of times a week but nothing major.
"I could be fitter and I am sure even after the bike ride I could be fitter."
Not that anything will stop Hoyle in his quest, the chairman thrilled to be raising money for the 'Keep It Up' campaign, helping to fund two Yorkshire Air Ambulance helicopters.
"To be honest I wanted to do something to help out the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and I just thought this would be a great idea," he said.
"I hope that fans and all Yorkshire people will back us as we try and raise money for the 'Keep It Up' campaign. It is a very worthy cause, as it costs 7,200 to keep the two Yorkshire Air Ambulances up in the air each day.
"And anything we can do to raise their profile and help them to save lives is a good thing."
Hoyle has taken over the role as chairman with a bang, the founder of Card Factory also named the Ernst & Young North & Midlands Overall Entrepreneur of the Year 2009 this week.
The new chairman only hopes the ultimate celebration will be saved for next May with promotion to the Coca -Cola Championship.
"I think everyone is optimistic at the start of the season, otherwise there is no point being in football, but I think we have got a realistic chance this season," he said.
"Automatic will be a tough call but I would be disappointed, especially with the players we have and the way the players play, I would be disappointed if we are not in the top six.
"The top six is then always a lottery, so it's fingers crossed after that.
"I'm excited, but it makes no difference.
"It's a job to do and we have got to keep our feet on the ground and work hard to try and achieve what we want to do.
"The management, supporters, management team – we are all fighting to achieve."
Hoyle will doubtless be fighting the pain barrier come his long bike ride in August, but the 41-year-old can at least take solace from the fact he decided against walking to Town's first away game, which was the original plan.
Huddersfield to Southend on foot? Hoyle is glad he investigated the potential fixture list before making his plans public.
"I considered walking to the first game but because there were only four teams less than a 100 miles away the likelihood of it being a local team was remote," explained Hoyle.
"The thought was to cycle to the first away game and we'll give it a go, hopefully doing it over the three and a half days.
"If I'd have chosen to walk it, I'd be setting off now!"
SUPPORTERS of Huddersfield have been donating money to the Keep It Up campaign for weeks through one of several method.
Anyone wishing to back the charity can do so by either visiting www.keepitup.org.uk and clicking 'donate now'.
Alternatively, you can visit www.htafc.com to download a sponsorship and donation form, or text '84010' from your mobile phone to donate 3 to the campaign.
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