Ardent Rugby Town fan Steve Townsley’s cycle home from work this week will be no ordinary affair, with the long-distance supporter set to embark on an approximate 700 mile journey.

Steve - who will be 59 years old partway through his upcoming epic trip - has followed Valley since 1996, getting to as many games a year as he can from his German base.

The charity ride is in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support and the Midlands Air Ambulance, and is being done in memory of three of Steve’s family members who have died within the last year.

He will be setting off from Coventry (his place of work on July 24th) and heading for Karlsruhe – the nearest town to his house.

The club have donated a set of shirt and shorts for him to wear on the journey, which he will be undertaking on his own, and he hopes to complete the trip by the 15th of August at the latest.

Steve explained: “This is my attempt to honour the memory of Dan Townsley, John and Jim Angwin – all decent and good man, but all taken far too early.

“I am far from a fitness fanatic – how can I be weighing in at getting on 16 stone? And it’s not intended to be a race either - more a test of endurance and determination.

“I will be funding all my own expenses along the way, and all money raised will go to two charities that are close to the family’s heart.”

Anyone wishing to support Steve in his endeavours, can do by visiting his fundraising webpage www.virginmoneygiving.com/STEVETOWNSLEY.