Brian Horrigan, the man you might have glimpsed frequently standing in the tunnel at Stamford Bridge or disembarking the team coach on TV, is in charge of player security at Chelsea. With no players to currently look after, he has embarked on a challenging charity walk.

No-one who encounters Brian on a day-to-day basis has the slightest doubt he will be up to the task, but that doesn't stop what he has set himself sounding daunting - walking solo coast-to-coast across England's highest terrain, starting with the Lake District, traversing the Pennines and ending where North Yorkshire meets the North Sea. On route is one of the England's highest-altitude pubs.

Starting this week, the aim is complete the 190 miles in six days, with one spare day factored into the timetable just in case.

The cause is Help for Heroes which supports wounded servicemen and women from current conflicts and Brian already has Chelsea players, staff and fans contributing.

'I am hoping to achieve 30 miles-a-day and if I can get to a little bed and breakfast, I will do that for the night, but if I get caught out due to bad weather or there is nowhere available, then I will sleep rough for the night,' Brian says.

'The equipment I will carry is emergency equipment for if I get caught out overnight and I will carry my own food and water. I will have a GPS tracker for reasons of safety, if I sprain my ankle or break my leg, and I will have a phone.

'Mentally, if the weather is nice, the terrain is enough for me but in quieter moments, I have a Spanish tape. I speak the language and it will be to refresh myself.'

Speaking of Spain, walks Brian has undertaken in previous close seasons have been 1000km on an old pilgrim route across the Pyrenees and northern Spain and a trek along the centre of Cuba.

'I have had good support and donations from the players,' he says of this year's challenge.

'Some have given before I go, some have said they will give when the walk is done,' he laughs.

'I have had a lot of donations from other employees of Chelsea Football Club and when the supporters went up to the Sunderland game on the train, they had a whip round and we raised over £600 pounds, which is fantastic.

'Being an ex-military man, I think Help for Heroes is a good cause, giving back to people who gave something for us.

'John Terry and Frank Lampard support it and have spoken to injured troops and we looked after them for a day at Cobham during the season.'

Chelseafc.com will hopefully be following Brian's progress during the trek.

Anyone who wishes to donate, click on Brian Horrigan Coast-to-Coast trek.