The Spartan Classic for Rennie Grove

My name is Lionel Birnie and I'm a sports journalist and podcaster. In 2022, I rode to each of the 42 Scottish Football League grounds to make a series called the Tour d'Écosse for The Cycling Podcast. That series won its category at the Sports Podcast Awards.

For the past three months, I've been volunteering behind the scenes for my local football club, Harpenden Town, who play in the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division. The team are currently chasing a place in the end-of-season play-offs and it could all come down to the final two away games of the season.

I've decided to cycle from Harpenden Town to each of the grounds in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division, taking in the final two away games of the season, at FC Romania and Dunstable Town on the way.

I'd like to raise as much money as possible for Rennie Grove Hospice in St Albans. My Mum was diagnosed with cancer in 2022 and Rennie Grove offered her a lot of support as she went through chemotherapy. Rennie Grove and Harpenden Town FC are also closely connected.

Money donated goes straight from Go Fund Me to Rennie Grove Hospice.

The Spartan Classic will start on Wednesday, April 17 and finish on Saturday, April 20, with me arriving at Dunstable Town's Creasey Park in time for the 3pm kick-off.

If anyone wants to join me for a few kilometres, get in touch via direct message on Twitter. @lionelbirnie

The itinerary is subject to change but currently looks like this:

Stage 1: Wednesday, April 17

0km Harpenden Town – Rothamsted Park, AL5 2EF

14km Leverstock Green – Pancake Lane, HP2 4NQ

28km Colney Heath – The Recreation Ground, AL4 0NP

41.5km London Lions – Rowley Lane, EN5 3HW

50km Cockfosters – Chalk Lane, EN4 9JG

56km St Panteleimon – at Potters Bar Town FC, EN6 1QB

69km FC Romania – at Cheshunt, EN8 8RU

7.45pm Cheshunt v Harpenden Town

Stage 2: Thursday, April 18

0km Cheshunt

25km Sawbridgeworth Town – Crofters End, CM21 0DE

36.5km Stansted – Hargrave Park, CM24 8BY

77.5km Arlesey Town/Baldock Town – New Lamb Meadow, SG15 6RS

85km Shefford Town and Campton – SG17 5JD

Stage 3: Friday, April 19

0km Shefford

11km Biggleswade United - Second Meadow, SG18 0AA

16.5km Potton United – The Hutchinson Hollow, SG19 2LX

31km Real Bedford – McMullen Park, MK44 3SB

65km Milton Keynes Irish – Manor Fields, MK2 2HX

Stage 4: Saturday April 20

0km Milton Keynes

28km Aylesbury Vale Dynamos – The Greenfleets Stadium, HP19 9WZ

43.5km Tring Athletic – The Michael Anthony Stadium, HP23 5NT

62km Dunstable Town – Creasey Park, LU6 1BB

3pm Dunstable Town v Harpenden Town

73km Crawley Green – The Brache, LU1 3HH

82km Harpenden Town FC – Rothamsted Park AL5 2EF