Footy fan walking five marathons to team's last game

Would you walk the distance of five consecutive marathons just to make it to your team's final away fixture of the season, even after they had been relegated?

Well that is exactly what one Oxford United fan is doing, as he takes on a 125-mile (201km) trek to Millwall's home ground, The Den, across just five days.

Neil McManus, from Drayton, is taking on the quest to raise money for the charity Fight Bladder Cancer after he was diagnosed with the disease in December 2024.

Now cancer-free, the 47-year-old U's superfan said he decided to have a go at the challenge after "a couple of bottles of red wine" on New Year's Eve.

"I'm kind of regretting my life choices," he joked, before adding: "I'm really trying to raise awareness of bladder cancer and its symptoms."

Neil said: "In December 2024 I was diagnosed out of the blue with bladder cancer, and was very, very much surprised."

He described the news as "life-changing" as he had been "expecting to roll in and have a nice normal Christmas".

"But thankfully it was picked up really early, and it really is a must that if you've got any of the symptoms you get picked up early and it's really, really treatable.

"Twelve months on, I'm now cancer-free."

The Chinnor-based Fight Bladder Cancer charity supports patients and their families, raises awareness and campaigns for research.

"[They] reached out to me when I was diagnosed," Neil explained.

"I wanted to do something for them to coincide with the end of the season. Last year, Oxford United were at Swansea though and I wasn't sure if I could walk quite that far."

The U's head to Millwall on Saturday with their relegation from the Championship already sealed, but Neil will be hoping for a chance to put his feet up and watch his beloved team finish the season with a flourish.