'Time to end 8,000-mile stadiums cycle challenge'

Mark Crowther said his last challenge was to celebrate Luton being in the Premiere League and raising awareness for four charities

A devoted football fan says completing his third and final mammoth cycling challenge on the day his club could remain in the Premier League is the "perfect time to stop".

Mark Crowther, 57, from Milton Keynes, has biked to 162 football grounds, ridden more than 8,000 miles, and raised about £32,000 for charities since 2021.

The Luton Town fan, known as Mad Hatter Mark, said riding to West Ham to see his beloved team try to take a step towards staying in the top flight will be extremely "emotional".

"I now want to go to games and do what [normal] fans do," he said.

Mad Hatter Mark has supported Luton Town through all the highs and lows, he said

"This is my last challenge," he confirmed.

He rode to Luton's Championship away games in the 2021-2022 season, cycled to 118 stadiums across England and Wales in 2023, and this season has biked to every away match as the Hatters have struggled on their return to the top flight for the first time since 1992.

"Everyone's been so generous and the support has meant so much, but it's taken up a lot of time and financial implications for me. I just feel, as much for my own mental health, I've maybe had enough of me cycling everywhere," he said.

"This is the perfect time to stop.

"Three years ago I was in such a dark place, mentally, even leaving the house was a challenge, but I wanted to take the focus away from me and see if I could help other people through the charities."

His final challenge is in aid of Mind BLMK, Prostate Cancer UK, Keech Hospice Care and NOAH Enterprise.

"The last three years I've raised over £36,000, nearly the same amount as the number of Luton fans who were at the Championship play-off final in 2023," he said.

"I need to concentrate on my own mental health as it's something I'm constantly working on.

"I don't know where I'd be without the support from everyone. No-one should ever suffer alone."

On 21 February, Mark saw Luton lose 4-1 at Liverpool, having cycled to Anfield

At 15:00 BST, his club take on West Ham at the London Stadium, which will be a 50-mile ride for Mark.

Luton are 18th in the table - three points adrift of Nottingham Forest with both having two games left. Luton's last game of the season is at home to Fulham next weekend.

"I know I will be very emotional. The game is important, but it's not the only thing," he said.

"We do things the Luton way; we never do things easy; there's always drama.

"I couldn't be more proud of Rob Edwards and the team, they've given everything this season."

He predicts Luton winning 2-3 "as that's what happened 34 years ago at Derby, when they club relied on other results".

"It was a boiling hot day; I was there, and we managed to stay up," he said.

"Whatever happens the football club is on a firm footing; it's a special club."

The club is aiming to move to its new Power Court stadium in 2026.

Mark met Osvaldo Ardiles at Tottenham's ground on 30 March