FIVE football-mad friends raised more than £5,000 for Little Havens Hospices by travelling to all 92 football league stadiums in 92 hours.
South Woodham Ferrers lads Nick Smith, Mike and Matt Crawston, Tony Baker and Andrew Scullion started at Southend United's Roots Hall stadium and finished at Colchester United in a time of 87 hours, 49 minutes and 14 seconds.
Their highlights included stumbling across Port Vale manager Micky Adams and being asked by Accrington Stanley to return Luton Town's training kit to the club on their behalf.
Nick, 29, a teacher, said: "Although we faced several difficulties, such as traffic and road closures, we managed to visit all 92 grounds.
"It was an incredible experience which was made even more special knowing that we were raising money for Little Havens.
"After visiting the hospice the five of us were inspired to raise as much money as we could for such a fantastic organisation."
The quintet, most of whom have grown up playing amateur football – Andrew for Focus Ferrers and Matt for Latchingdon FC – say they were inspired after visiting a Little Havens Hospice open day in April.
They set off by car on Tuesday, August 26, and completed the trip the next Saturday.
The group, who aimed to raise £2,000 but have collected £5,500 so far, singled out Southend, Fleetwood Town, Liverpool and Sunderland as being the most hospitable.
"The donations received kept all of us motivated throughout the challenge, especially when completing the more difficult legs of the journey," said Nick.
Little Havens community fundraiser Peter Hall said: "The guys did a fantastic job and have doubled their fundraising target, so we can't thank them enough.
"Little Havens Hospice can only exist because of the kindness of our supporters like Nick and his friends."
The charity aims to open a two-storey £16.5 million spa hotel for as many as 16 inpatients and 20 daycare patients in Southend by 2019, replacing the current Westliff-on-Sea hospice.
To sponsor the boys visit www.92in92challenge.org and for more information on the charity visit www.havenshospices.org.uk
