What lengths would you go to in order to watch your team play at Wembley Stadium? 

Would you spend eight days walking 141 miles? Well that is exactly what Graeme Brookes did to see his beloved Walsall take to the hallowed Wembley turf for the first time in their 127-year history.

Setting off from the Saddlers’ Banks’s Stadium, the devoted fan braved the elements and ate up the miles to finally arrive at the Bobby Moore Statue outside Wembley mere hours prior to Sunday’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Final.

The obvious question is, why?

“The story starts with my grandfather,” he told WembleyStadium.com.

“He was a Walsall fan for 83 years and passed away in 2005.

“He was there come wind, rain or shine but the thing that separated him was that he was deaf and blind.

“He was born deaf and then lost his sight as a teenager but it didn’t stop him.

“After we won the play-off final at Cardiff in 2001 we were walking back and he said to me: "This day would be perfect if it was at Wembley."

“Then we finally get to Wembley after 127 years and that comment he made resonated with me. 

It made me think I need to do something out of respect to him as he was a real hero to me.

“I can’t bungee jump as I am too fat, I can’t cycle as I am scared of fast cars but I can walk and I decided to walk for the charity which helped him the most, the Walsall Society for the Blind.”

Graeme has raised an incredible £6,000 for his chosen charity but admits it has come at a price.

“I have five big-ish blisters but my calves are the most painful thing,” he added.

“Right now they are constantly tense and when I lie in bed they just throb away.

“The worst time was Thursday night, I just felt terrible.

“I hit the 100-mile mark and, I don’t know why, but my morale just sunk.

“But then my donations started shooting up and I had a call from Walsall’s Society for the Blind. That really put me in a good place and got me out of that.”

Upon arrival at Wembley, Graeme received an unexpected treat as he was whisked off to the Bobby Moore Club, courtesy of Club Wembley, to enjoy the hospitality.

So what did he make of his little treat?

“I feel really out of place here, I’m a boy from Pleck,” he joked.

“Seriously though it is amazing, I have seen some famous people and there’s free food and beer.

“I am so grateful to Wembley for acknowledging me and the cause, it is a beautiful thing and I am very appreciative.”

Sadly for Graeme, Walsall could not deliver the result he desired going down 2-0 to Bristol City on the day.

But he says the Wembley experience has been incredible for him personally and for Walsall as a whole.

“It has brought the community together,” he said.

“For me and my family it was very special because finally we got here and, in spirit, my grandfather was with us too.”

Click here to read more about Graeme’s journey or to donate.