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Local man will sit down 42,785 times in 24 hours!
26/09/2022
Staunch Villa supporter from Middleton Cheney aims to sit in every seat in the stadium
If you’ve ever wondered which is the best seat in the house at Aston Villa’s stadium then after today one local man will know the answer. Simon Osborn from Middleton Cheney is aiming to sit on every seat at Villa Park in a 24 hour period.
Simon, 42, started his challenge at 8am with 42,785 ahead of him. To complete his mission he will need to achieve one seat every two seconds!
The staunch Aston Villa supporter, who’s a season ticket holder, had been on a stadium tour at Villa Park when he came up with the madcap fund-raising idea. He asked the tour guide and was surprised when he was told it might be possible.
Since them Simon has planned the challenge with the Aston Villa Foundation, who, together with the Alzheimer’s Society, will benefit from the money raised by Simon.
He says meticulous planning has gone into the day: “We’re doing it in blocks, a stand at a time, starting off at the North stand behind one of the goals and then working our way around – the upper tier then the lower tier in each stand.
“I’ll finish at the Trinity stand where the dug-out is and hopefully sit in the dug-out on the manager’s chair. I’ll check it out for size!”
Paige Evans from the Aston Villa Foundation will be with Simon throughout the day to make sure he completes the challenge.
Simon acknowledges its going to be difficult. He said: “It’s going to be rough and it’s going to be rapid.
“I’m going to age about 10 years in 2 days. I think half way round will be difficult because you’ve still got a fair bit to go. You hit the wall.
“But I love Villa Park and I love Aston Villa so I think despite the burn, just looking around in the great stadium, will get me through hopefully.”
Simon has had to factor toilet breaks into his plans and acknowledges these will have to be quick. He said: “It’s going to be interesting. I’m allowed to use the concourse toilets but I don’t want to be too long – time stood still is sitting time!”
Ahead of the challenge Simon’s personal trainer Paul Cleaver has been preparing him and advising him of the foods to eat and when to eat them. There will be strategic food and drink points around the ground so he can grab it on the move.
After the challenge Simon anticipates he won’t feel the best. He said: “I’m expecting raging burning pretty much from head to toe. A lot of people saying about the legs, but that’s guaranteed.
“But I think the upper body will hurt from shifting over the seats. I’ve got the chiropractor booked for that!”
Simon is raising money for the Aston Villa Foundation. They run a dementia cafe offering those with the condition stimulating activities, allowing their carers respite. Simon’s grandmother has Alzheimer’s and other members of his family have also faced the condition.
He said: “To watch them go through it and see the deterioration is it’s very sad. What I am raising for the Aston Villa Foundation they will match and then split it 50/50 with the Alzheimer’s Society and Dementia UK.”
You can donate towards Simon’s fund-raising appeal here.
Listen to our interview with Simon here:
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam