ELY footballer Jamie Alsop will be swapping his shirt for a running vest on April 21 when he takes part in the world famous London Marathon.

Former Ely City left-back Jamie Alsop is entering the final month of training for the 26-mile 385-yard race which he is running to raise money for the Sports Connections Foundation.

Alsop, who is 28 and lives in Ely, hasn’t been able to take time off from the football with the full-back a key player for St Ives as the club push for promotion to the Southern League.

He said: “I wasn’t really sure what I going to do charity wise but my team-mate Junior McDougald talked to me about Sports Connections and I thought that sounded brilliant,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for me.

“I started training about three months ago, just lightly – four or five miles – but now I’m up to 16. I feel I could push myself a bit further but with the football I can’t really do that.

“Getting an injury worries me a little but because of where we are in the league I’ve just got to keep going.

“I didn’t realise how far a mile was to run until I did it. Anything under four hours and I’ll be happy.”

To donate to Jamie’s cause, go their fundraising pages at www.charity giving.co.uk/jamiealsop and www.just giving.com/greensleeves007