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Norwich striker sets fan 120-mile cycle challenge

News imageJohn Fairhall/BBC Norwich striker Mo Touré (left) is wearing a black T-shirt with a large green design on the front. He is standing in an office next to 16-year-old fan Ranulph Bacon, who is wearing a green polo shift. The pair are smiling at the camera.John Fairhall/BBC
Norwich striker Mo Touré (left) says he was delighted to respond to Ranulph Bacon's post
Tom WilliamsBBC Sport, Norfolk, Norwich

A Norwich City fan will cycle 120 miles to the club's opening away match of the season at Millwall on Saturday, after being challenged by striker Mo Touré.

Ranulph Bacon, 16, from Norwich, tagged the Canaries forward to a post on Instagram, promising to ride to the Den stadium in south-east London for a community support charity if he replied.

Within minutes, Touré, who represented Australia at this summer's World Cup, had messaged the teenager back, so the challenge was on.

"I couldn't believe he replied almost immediately. It blew my mind," said Ranulph.

News imageA composite image of Mo Touré in action for Norwich City alongside a graphic of an Instagram post, which reads from Ranulph: "If you reply, then I'll cycle to my first away day next season and do it for charity." Mo replied, "Done."
Mo and Ranulph's exchange on social media has prompted the charity cycle ride to Millwall
News imageTom Williams/BBC Ranulph (left) and Mo sit on exercise bikes at the club's training facility with other first-team players cycling around them. They are chatting and wearing Norwich City-branded training kit.Tom Williams/BBC
Norwich City invited Ranulph to the club's training ground at Colney to meet his hero and talk about the charity ride.

Touré told BBC Look East that one of his friends initially made him aware of the notification on social media and said that once he looked into it, he realised it was serious, so he was delighted to respond.

"It is for a very good cause. Ranulph is doing something really positive for the local community, so I thought why not? It is just a comment."

The striker laughed as he said: "I did not realise it was going to get this big! He is very enthusiastic. He is looking forward to it, and I'm glad I made him happy."

Ranulph will complete the ride over three days. He admits he was relieved when the Championship fixtures came out and that the first away game was at Millwall, not further away in Middlesbrough, Portsmouth or even Cardiff.

The teenager admitted it would be "a slog", but he said he was looking forward to it. He will begin cycling from Carrow Road two days before the match, via school, to collect his GCSE results before overnighting in Colchester. The following day, he will continue on towards Greater London before arriving at The Den in time for the 12:30 BST kick-off at Millwall on Saturday.

News imageJohn Fairhall/BBC Norwich City's head coach Philippe Clement on the left in a green training top is pictured with Ranulph on the right in a maroon-coloured Norwich shirt. Both are giving a thumbs up and smiling at camera.John Fairhall/BBC
Ranulph was invited on a tour of the Avant Training Centre at Colney where he met several first team players, staff and the head coach Philippe Clement
News imageJohn Fairhall/BBC Ranulph, wearing a green polo shirt, is standing in between two players at the club's training ground as they pose for a photograph. Midfielders Oscar Schwartau is on the left and Pelle Mattsson is on the right, wearing Norwich City-branded maroon-coloured training tops.John Fairhall/BBC
Ranulph explained his cycling challenge to everyone he met at Colney, including midfielders Oscar Schwartau (left) and Pelle Mattsson (right)

Ranulph is raising money for Bungay Community Support, who are based in Suffolk. He said he has been training rigourously for the ride.

The charity needs to raise £400,000 to buy a community centre and secure its future. It runs a food hall and other outreach services from its Number 28 hub, on Wingfield Street in the town, which helps about 80 people.

Since Christmas, it has been looking for a new home after being told it had "limited time" at its current premises, which is to be sold.

Ranulph has already raised more than £1,000 but is hoping to make much more.

"They have done so much good work in Bungay and the surrounding area," he said.

"The charity has had such an impact on so many people I know. It is a huge part of the local community, with lots of people reliant on their services, so I really wanted to help.

"It is still a long way to go to raise the total needed, but I am not the only one fundraising. Hopefully this helps out," he added.

"The players have been amazing. They were all fascinated to know what I am up to and why. It shows they are not just machines or superheroes, but normal people who care. It is lovely to see. It has been an honour just being here."

News imageJohn Fairhall/BBC Ranulph, in his green polo shirt, sits smiling at the top table in the press room at Colney, where players and management conduct weekly media interviews. There is a sponsors' board behind him.John Fairhall/BBC
Ranulph also visited the press room where the players and head coach conduct media interviews

Touré has started in both of Norwich's matches this season. He also spoke about the summer, after representing the Socceroos on international football's grandest stage in North America.

The 22-year-old featured in three of Australia's four games before being knocked out by Egypt on penalties in the Round of 32. He has had a whirlwind start to his Norwich career, scoring 10 goals in 12 appearances, following his £2.6m switch from the Danish Superliga.

"The World Cup was a great experience and memory. It is every player's dream to play on that stage for their country. My whole family were there too, so I really enjoyed it."

Touré is confident the experience of playing in the competition will help his development at Norwich.

"Mentally the most," he said. "When you play at that level, you have to be switched on and it taught me a lot of things. I took a lot of positives out of the World Cup. I just want to keep getting better, and I hope to score lots of goals for Norwich this season."

The forward said he and his teammates love interacting with the fans and that they hope to build one big community in Norfolk.

Asked if he had any advice for Ranulph ahead of his charity ride?

"Yes, definitely. He has to drink a lot of water. It is hot right now in Norwich. Get some sleep, too. He also needs good luck!"

News imageJohn Fairhall/BBC Ranulph is presented with the Norwich City kit by the club's kitman, Pete Dye. They have broad smiles as they pose for the camera arm in arm with one of the players behind them. Ranulph is holding his new yellow Norwich shirt and maroon training top and green shorts close to his chest in his right arm.John Fairhall/BBC
Ranulph met Norwich's long-serving kit manager, Pete Dye, who presented him with a shirt and training kit for the charity cycle ride

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