WHEN football mad Paul Hodgkinson discovered he was losing his eyesight he set himself the challenge of a lifetime.

Since April, the former Marsden man has been walking to every Football League ground in England and Wales.

Paul lost his left eye in an accident as a teenager.

And three years ago, nerve damage caused by the operation to remove the left eye started to affect the vision in his right eye.

Now the dad-of-one has limited vision in just one eye – and has been warned he could lose his sight forever.

So while he still can, Paul has embarked on a 2,300-mile walk to all 92 clubs to raise £20,000 for the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) along with Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.

On his walk, which finishes at Anfield in September, Liverpool fan Paul has been collecting club memorabilia, including a signed Chelsea football and a signed Manchester United pennant.

On Saturday, Paul and his son Joshua, of Linthwaite, were welcomed to Huddersfield Town by former Town striker and club ambassador Andy Booth.

Andy presented Paul, who now lives in Wakefield, with a signed Town shirt which, alongside his other football memorabilia will be auctioned off for the two charities.

Paul, who has worked for several companies in the Colne Valley, said his condition only made him more determined.

“Having this condition has really focused my mind,’’ he said. “I’d worked all my life all over England and Europe. You go from working 60 to 70 hours a week to doing nothing.

“I wondered what to do and my life seemed worthless but I’m doing this to prove I’m still worthwhile and I can do it. I’m not the type of person to sit down and do nothing.”

So far Paul’s walk, which stretches from Plymouth in the south west to Newcastle in the north east, has been a rollercoaster of emotions and challenges.

Paul said: “It’s been really fun, it’s been really hard and it’s been a nightmare. Every emotion that you can think of I’ve had.

“I had a woman run over my foot in Torquay and break my toe. I’ve had my shin in splints and cartilage problems.

“But it’s been good. I’ve met some fantastic people on the way. The accommodation has been sorted for me by both charities. I couldn’t have done it without them.

“It’s about giving the charities some recognition and letting people know that these charities are out there.”

For more about Paul’s walk go to: www.walkingweareunited.co.uk