England football icon Jill Scott says she is honoured at being selected to undertake a demanding five-day cycling and marathon challenge for Sport Relief.
The decorated midfielder, who earned 161 caps for her country and was a pivotal part of the Lionesses’ historic Euro 2022 victory, will embark on the fundraising endeavour in June to generate funds for the charity.
Scott’s ambitious journey will span 388 miles, commencing from London’s Wembley Stadium and culminating at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, home to her hometown club.
The challenge, dubbed the “Coming Home Challenge”, is set to begin on Monday 8 June and conclude on Friday 12 June.
Throughout the five days, Scott will travel north, making stops at significant football stadiums and community hubs that have played a role in her life and career.
“It’s a real honour that they’ve asked me to do it. I feel honoured, like out of so many people that could have been chosen for this, I’m the one that gets to go out there and try and raise as much money as possible,” Scott said.
“I’m 100 per cent committed to finishing it, because I really want to try and make a difference to people.”
The route will see Scott visit prominent clubs such as Aston Villa, Everton, and Manchester City, alongside grassroots community team Bishop Auckland FC Ladies. She will also be joined by familiar faces along the way, engaging with people from Sport Relief-funded projects and witnessing first-hand the transformative impact of sport on people’s lives.
The Euros winner said that without the robust support network she had in her formative years, she would never have been able to “fulfil” her dream of playing for England and achieving the Euro 2022 triumph, which she described as the “best day of my life”.
Scott said: “(As) a young girl, I really had to rely on coaches and PE teachers and people like that to guide me on my journey of wanting to be a footballer. I was so lucky that I was offered safe spaces to play football and I was offered these incredible teachers and coaches who I could trust and who could help me, but there’s so many young people that don’t get those opportunities.”
She added: “A lot of young people say they feel lonely, they feel disconnected. That’s definitely something that Sport Relief really do help with – giving kids a sense of belonging, a purpose.
“I would just urge people, if you are in a position to help, please make sure you do, because without those green spaces, without those youth clubs, I would never have gone on to fulfil my dreams of playing for England. I never even thought it was going to be an opportunity.”
Scott said there had been significant growth in women’s football.
“Times have definitely changed, definitely. Even when I went and visited this project in Southwick Snyp (Southwick Neighbourhood Youth Project in Sunderland), there was the same amount of girls playing as there was boys and I didn’t even really think about it until I walked away. But the fact that I didn’t think about it, I was like, that’s how far we’ve come.
“I love that there’s more opportunities for girls as well as boys in the footballing world, but even outside of that as well, just kind of kids having the opportunities to make new friends, and that’s what these hubs really do create.”
The challenge itinerary includes a 112-mile bike ride from Wembley to Villa Park on day one, followed by a 99-mile ride to Everton Hill Dickinson Stadium on day two. Day three will see Scott complete a 38-mile run into Manchester, preceding a Tour-de-France style 111-mile cycle towards the North East on day four. The epic journey will conclude on Friday, June 12, with a 28-mile marathon finish to the Stadium of Light.
Jill Scott’s Coming Home Challenge for Sport Relief can be tracked via Comic Relief’s website. Donations can be made at www.comicrelief.com/jillscott.
