York City Football Club supporter gears up for season in saddle

York City Football Club supporter Simon Hood has launched the website which will chart his season in the saddle as he travels to every one of his club's matches by bike.

The 32-year-old former resident of the cathedral city, a lifelong supporter of its Blue Square Premiership team, is quitting his job to spend 10 months attending every single York City match, home and away, on his Kona Sutra bike, bought "in a hollow-eyed 3am eBay frenzy," and so far he seems happy with his purchase.

"What a stunning, responsive, thrusting machine it is. I love it. It’s swift, striking, solid and sexy. A different species from not only its predecessor, but from any bike I’ve ever ridden. I imagine I will be feeling differently about it in a year’s time, but for now it remains an unsullied beauty," he says on his website, www.bicyclekicks.co.uk

Another aim of Hood's trip is to give him material for a book, as he's long been an aspiring writer.

He says the trip will be a test of his commitment to his team. “I suppose subconsciously I must love York City,” he said. “It’s a fickle mistress.”

Simon's 10,000 mile 10-month journey will be in aid of the York branch of the Alzheimers Society. Both his grandfathers suffered from and eventually succumbed to the illness so the charity is very close to Simon's heart.

All details of Simon’s epic journey, including blogs charting his progress, will appear on the website: www.bicyclekicks.co.uk.