FOOTBALL fans often boast some of the best memorabilia collections around, but none more so than the Lund family.
If they tied all the shirts, scarves and flags donated to them it would stretch to more than three miles!
What started out as an idea to raise awareness for the life-limiting condition Mark's eight-year-old son Alfie has been diagnosed with, has literally grown and grown.
Now dad Mark takes his boy to watch games from Step 9 to the Premier League to display a section of their football chain.
“All tied together it's probably about three miles long now,” said Mark, who has attended more than 60 games in the last two seasons with it.
“We've had interest from all over the world. Alfie's featured in Bayer Leverkusen's programme, and we had a visit from one of their supporters who brings memorabilia over to England. It's quite humbling.
“We've brought it back to Non-League this season. The Northern Premier League have been absolutely fantastic and so have the offers of support.”
Alfie suffers from a rare genetic disorder known as MECP2 Duplication Syndrome. It was only discovered in 2005 and when Alfie was diagnosed he was only the seventh child in the UK to have it. It means he cannot walk or talk and he also has profound learning difficulties.
Now the diagnosed number is up to 35, so through the Alfie Lund Fund the family are on a mission to raise awareness.
Mark was nominated by Kev Panther at Skelmersdale United – where Alfie has his own advertising board – for all that he does travelling around the country.
Kev told us: “If you ever see a chain of flags at a match you know Mark and Alfie are about. I can't think of a more worthy winner for his strength and dedication.”
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has been involved and Alfie even has a signed pennant from Lionel Messi. They're hoping to enter the Guinness Book of Records before auctioning off all the memorabilia with the aim of raising £10,000.
“Alfie does love going to matches,” Mark said. “It brightens up grounds. You go to Step 7 and it's something they might not have seen before. People love it and embrace it. We had one supporter travel all the way from London to Southport and hand over stuff he'd collected.
“We went to a game in Sittingbourne and last season four of their fans came from Kent to Blackburn just to be there.
“We bump into people we've seen all the time. Non-League's fantastic and that's why we came back to it this season. You get to speak to people, hear stories and meet some very funny characters.”
