A FOOTBALL club has run the distance from Bedale to Barcelona as part of a challenge during lockdown to keep players fit.

Bedale AFC have been forced to cancel their final pre-season warm-up match against Heck FC team due to the current Covid-19 restrictions, but instead launched the ‘One Heck Of A Challenge’ competition which saw players run the equivalent mileage from its own Heck Stadium to the Nou Camp Stadium in Barcelona.

Three teams of players competed in challenge, running 1,154miles and logging their daily training runs during June.

The winners of the event were the “Sausage Squad” made up of 18 first team players who narrowly pipped “Team Hot Dog”.

Dave Goodwin, Bedale AFC first team manager said “60 people have participated in the event, mostly around Bedale and Northallerton but with some of the players running in London, Scotland, Wales and Newcastle. We are indebted to Heck Foods for their unwavering support, it’s important for local businesses to stay connected to voluntary sport in these difficult times ."