Kevin Sinfield has completed the mammoth task of running seven marathons in seven days and has raised over £1.9 million for research into Motor Neurone Disease in the process.
The Oldham-born former professional rugby player – who captained Leeds Rhinos in the Super League for 18 years from 1997 – 2015, and now acts as the club’s Director of Rugby since 2018 – was inspired to take on the challenge for his close friend, and long-time Leeds Rhinos teammate, Rob Burrow, who is suffering with MND having been diagnosed last year.
The disease is currently incurable and so, in the hopes of contributing to a breakthrough in research, Kevin – nicknamed “Sir Kev” – set out on Tuesday 1st December for his first marathon.
After seven gruelling days, he finally completed the challenge Monday morning.
The initial fundraising target was set at £77,777 – a nod to the number seven shirt that Burrow wore for Leeds during his 17-year rugby league career – but once word got out, donations soon came flooding in from all across the country to see the official JustGiving page pass the £1 million mark as he crossed the finish like in Saddleworth.
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And it’s continued to rise ever since.
? Kevin Sinfield's final marathon has just come to an end.
? Seven days ? Seven marathons ?️ 183.4 miles of running ? Over £1.1m raised for @Rob7Burrow and @mndassoc
We cannot thank you enough Kevin ? he's raised a million £ running 7 marathons in 7 days in honour of his best friend @Rob7Burrow and the MND Association.
“It’s unbelievable and I’m so happy we got it done. After the first day I did worry we’d bitten off more than we could chew, but the donations and the support just fuelled us.”
After getting up in the early hours of the morning to run in snow, sleet, wind and darkness, it was all made worth it by the donations and well-wishes he and his support team received along his way. He added: “My wife asked me if someone offered to double it would you do it again? And in an instant I said: ‘Yeah, absolutely,”
“I’m busted and broken now, but it’s what mates do: they look after each other.
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“The group, our team, have been such a special group. We are just six mates trying to make money for Rob and, without being able to go away because of COVID, this has been our holiday. The camaraderie has been unreal. We’ll miss waking up tomorrow to get ready to go again, and in a couple of years we’ll look back with a great deal of pride.”
Rob Burrow and his family were waiting for Sinfield at Headingley Stadium in Leeds on Saturday as he completed the fifth of his marathons, in an incredible time of three hours and 43 minutes.
Sinfield said that seeing his friend was almost too much for him to deal with at the time.
“When I ran into Headingley and I saw him, I didn’t stop straight away because I would have been a mess. I had a minute to gather myself but for him to be here was really, really special.” he said.
Burrow also sent a message to his pal ahead of the final marathon on Monday, saying: “You continue to inspire me and make me never want to give in. Like you I will take one step at a time, and maybe there isn’t a finish line for me but I will keep on going.
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“One more mate, I know you will do it. Good luck friend, I’m with you every step.
“Everyone needs a friend like Kev.”
"I'm overwhelmed… just so happy that we got it done"
Kevin Sinfield, Leeds Rhinos Director of Rugby, completes seven marathons in seven days
Oldham Athletic owner praised for ‘heartwarming’ Christmas gesture
Danny Jones
Amidst all the festive fixture congestion and travel drama, the lovely side of football can often get lost this time of year, but the owner and chairman of Oldham Athletic FC has gone viral for reminding everyone of what’s important this Christmas.
The Latics faced off against Braintree Town in the National League in their last game before Christmas on Saturday, 21 December, walking away with a 2-0 win on the road to send the travelling fans home with an early stocking filler.
However, it wasn’t the result that fans and supporters all over the country have been talking about, it was a small but heartfelt gesture from Oldham boss Frank Rothwell who was in attendance for the pre-Christmas away game that has left people applauding him and the values now instilled around the club.
What a difference a bit of recognition, gratitude and simple kindness can make, eh?
As you can see, the 74-year-old entrepreneur (best known for founding the Manchester Cabins portable buildings company) didn’t just send out a Christmas message via club media or record a quick video as many other teams still struggle to put the effort into, he stayed behind to thank every single supporter.
Shaking hands and offering out hugs, all with a sincere enthusiasm and generally lovely demeanour, the Oldham native – donning his distinctive blue club flat cap – made sure to wish each and every one of them a merry Christmas before the nearly five-hour drive home.
Just downright wholesome stuff this, isn’t it?
Reacting to the video which has been reshared countless times online, one person said: “As a former Oldham resident it’s nice to see someone at the top care about the club, the residents and the town in general. It’s been a long time since that has been the case”; another added, “A nice gesture by the owner… After all, it’s the fans who make the game special.”
A third user wrote, “Oldham is a very lucky club. I had the pleasure of a chat with Frank in the tent at PP. I can honestly say one of the nicest, most genuine people I’ve met.” A subsequent reply underneath the comment read: “Hate these lot but f*** me I’m jealous, what a genuine bloke he seems to be.”
Rothwell completed his takeover of struggling Oldham Athletic back in 2022 after they were relegated from the EFL (English Football League) after 115 years and has been on a mission to get them back on their feet. He’s playing more than his part.
Hope you get back soon, Oldham belong in the Football league.
Spirits were understandably low at Boundary Park back then and things are still far from perfect, but the sentiment around the club now is a much more uplifting one, as Rothwell and his board look to have really ingratiated themselves among the fans and the community.
He’s also a bit of a local legend for other reasons too, having become the oldest person to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean back in 2021 and raising over £373,000 for Alzheimer’s Research UK after beating his record this past February and earning the Prime Minister’s ‘Point of Light’ award. Hero.
Micky Mellon’s side were set to take on York City in their final game of 2024 on Boxing Day but the match was ultimately postponed due to intense foggy conditions which plagued many of Thursday’s games. They will now take on Hartlepool away on New Year’s Day.
You can pretty much guarantee Frank will be along to watch that one too. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all the football club owners keeping the heart of the beautiful game alive.
Stockport County fans left ‘absolutely gutted’ after Aston Villa recall star player Louie Barry
Danny Jones
Stockport County fans have been left with an early lump of coal in their Christmas stockings this festive period as loanee and first-team favourite Louie Barry has been recalled by Aston Villa.
After the announcement was delivered this past weekend, Barry is set to return to hisparent club in January, leaving him with just three games left before he has to say goodbye to the Hatters.
Having impressed not only in his debut campaign with Stockport but going on to hit even greater heights to emerge as their star player this season, he’s quite literally been the match-winner more times than supporters will care to count as they prepare to bid him a reluctant goodbye.
Breaking the news to the Edgeley Park faithful on Sunday evening, the update may have been inevitable but it still came as a no less painful one that has frustrated many who believe it’s a “poor from Villa” and “unfair” both on the player and the club who desperately rely on him.
Having taken his goal contribution tally from 13 in 20 games throughout 2023/24 to having notched 15 goals and three assists in 22 appearances this season so far, there can be no question that Barry has found a comfortable second home at the League One club.
It’s come as a hard one to take for the fans who are all too aware of his potential. One person joked, “Thanks villa that’s just ruined my Christmas, All the best Louie”; another simply said, “Are you taking the p***?”, while a third dubbed him a “County legend”.
Many merely mustered the old adage, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened. Thank you”, but to sum up the overall feeling, they’re simply “gutted” to be losing the super talented youngster.
One person even went so far as to write: “An absolute box office footballer and a pleasure to watch live Up there with Anthony Pilkington as the most talented footballer I’ve ever seen in a County shirt Thoroughly enjoyed every moment of watching him, will follow his career with great interest.”
Even fans of other teams have been sharing their sympathy, with more than one echoing the sentiment: “An absolute shame. Been brilliant for you but his talents do lie at a higher level. Presume he will be loaned to a Championship team for the second half of the season.”
In fact, there were plenty of Villa fans to be found in the comments too, all debating whether or not this will prove to be a “mistake”, with several asking “Why upset his rhythm?”.
I'm a villa fan and I agree. I think he should have seen the season out with Stockport. Then next season put him in the championship whether with you guys or not. He's only 21 there's plenty of time
With the Birmingham-based side sitting in the European places once again in the top flight this season, the assumption is that Barry will most likely be loaned once again only to a Championship club to see at what level his ability is currently at.
Just as County will now be wishing they had, there’ll be plenty looking to snap the 21-year-old up on a permanent deal should they get the chance, with Leeds, Middlesborough and both Sheffield clubs all said to be interested.
On the other hand, with the Villans still in multiple competitions, they could be looking to bolster their squad with more numbers and given the success of youngsters like high-flying Jhon Durán, Morgan Rogers and Jacob Ramsey, they could be hoping to integrate him into the matchday squad.
However, the worry is that if he does stay at Villa Park and try to fight for first-team minutes, he could end up wasting valuable time sat waiting on the bench rather than continuing to thrive as he was at Stockport County. Regardless, the only saying still rings true: never get attached to a loan player…
Do you think Louie Barry was right to be recalled or is it a misstep from Villa?
Emily Sergeant -
8th December 2020 
