City welcomed home 14 avid record-breaking supporters on Sunday following their 50-Mile endurance trekking test which took them across some of Yorkshire’s steepest inclines overnight on Friday, all in the name of the raising money towards the club’s ‘Raise the Roof’ campaign and Essex Air Ambulance.

The group were the first ever to record a 100% completion rate according to course organisers, who were stunned to see the determined Clarets prevail against all odds and work towards a revised £7,000 sponsorship target. Most of that figure will contribute towards the purchase of temporary covered terracing at one end of Melbourne Stadium.

Making their way by minibus via a Café on Three Mile Hill for breakfast, they arrived with time for a break before setting off at 2:00pm from just outside Sheffield. Their route took them south-west of the ‘Steel City’ towards Bakewell, around to the north skirting Edale and Derwent, then back east to Sheffield. The highest peak was roughly half the height of Mount Snowdon and steady hill walking was required throughout.

Their naturally-differing progress saw them finish in three-to-four smaller groups though their ability to complete the punishing test during day and night-time hours exceeded even their own wildest expectations. After the closing stages of the expedition, ringleader Jon Read said: “One of the group had his shoes fall apart after 15 miles and another recently had open-heart surgery! There’s no length we wouldn’t go to for our club!”

Essex County FA Volunteer of the Year Awards 2009/10: Five pairs of tickets to the Community Shield fixture at Wembley, including a sumptuous pre-match meal at the nearby Hilton Hotel, are up-for-grabs for the winners of the Volunteer of the Year Awards, with nominations required to arrive by Monday 21st June.

The annual prizes are intended to reward some of the County’s finest volunteers and helpers who soldier through season-upon-season without asking for recognition. Last year, some of Essex’s grassroots heroes were treated to an all-expenses-paid VIP day out at the clash between Chelsea and Manchester United, including their coach travel, meal and a souvenir programme as a reward for decades of assistance.

Do you know a coach who gives their all for the sake of their players or a loyal administrator who looks after your club’s paperwork? Whether they’re a long-serving referee or a devoted committee member, download your form from www.essexfa.com, request a copy on (01245) 393085 or E-Mail info@essexfa.com.

World Cup Prediction Competition: Add an extra dimension to your summer by entering City’s World Cup Competition at www.visionsinternational.biz/html/world_cup.html? It’s only a fiver and all the profits are going towards the ‘Raise the Roof’ ground improvements at Melbourne Stadium. Hopefully it’ll give you the chance to have a laugh and/or make a complete fool of yourself along the way!

Proposed League Constitution for Chelmsford City Ladies: City’s ladies side, who narrowly missed out on promotion from the Eastern Region Women’s League at the weekend, now know who the majority of their opponents for next year will be, including derby games against Barking and promotees Brentwood Town. The list, to be firmed-up at the League’s June AGM, is likely to be: Arlesey Town, Barking, Bedford, Brentwood Town, Cambridge University, Chelmsford City, Haringey Borough, Hethersett Athletic, Kettering Town, Peterborough, Stevenage Borough, Woodbridge Town.

Essex Senior Cup Final Rearranged: Supporters from AFC Hornchurch and Colchester United will receive a pre-season boost when they meet at Bridge Avenue for the final of the Essex Senior Cup supported by BBC Essex on Tuesday 3rd August, with a kick-off of 7:45pm. The initial attempt to play this game in March at Dagenham & Redbridge FC between the Ryman League Premier Division side and a team from the Coca-Cola Football League One outfit was postponed due to a severely waterlogged pitch but a new date during the remainder of the campaign couldn’t be found.