Jill Scott overwhelmed by day one cycling support

Former Lioness Jill Scott has been making her way through the West Midlands as part of the first leg of her cycling and running challenge for Sport Relief.

She is aiming to cover 388 miles (624km) from Wembley Stadium, in north west London, to Sunderland's Stadium of Light in the North East.

She had a pitstop in Priors Marston in Warwickshire on Monday afternoon before setting off for Villa Park in Birmingham.

She said she has experienced some "lovely moments" with the crowds, but 75 miles into the journey admitted the bike seat was starting to hurt.

Wembley Stadium is where Scott helped England's women win their first Euro title in 2022.

She said she had enjoyed sport as a child and wanted all children to be able to try it, which was why she was taking part in the challenge.

"I think everybody said it was going to be an epic challenge, but if you want people to donate and help make a difference, you've got to try and do something big," she said.

"Sport Relief is just fantastic. Even me being able to say yes to this challenge is because I got to do sport when I was a child and I want every child to have the opportunity to be able to do sport.

"They support such great projects, youth work and community centres and I've seen that work first-hand and it really does change people's lives.

"When I was younger, I relied on those places and it enabled me to have a dream to become a footballer."

As well as visiting Aston Villa, she will stop at Everton, Man City and grassroots community team Bishop Auckland FC Ladies.

"There's been some lovely moments, the crowds and the posters," she added.

"I've been a bit overwhelmed. It's really got us through.

"I think we're about 75 miles (120km) in now so the bike seat's starting to hurt a little bit, but honestly the support has been amazing and all for Sport Relief which is incredible."

Her challenge will end on Friday with a 28-mile (45km) marathon finish to the Stadium of Light.

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