Skip to content

Walk in memory of former Cambridge United player

Aimee Dexter
News imageMichelle Youngs Tom Youngs is on the left and sitting next to Michelle Youngs, who is on the right. He has short brown hair and is wearing black sunglasses and a green jacket. She has long brown hair and is wearing a beige hat with a blue pattern and sunglasses. They are sitting on a beach. Michelle Youngs
Tom Youngs died in May 2025 after suffering from bowel cancer, his wife said

A group of people have walked the length of a marathon between two football clubs in memory of a former Cambridge United player.

Tom Youngs, who was born in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, and started his career with the club's academy aged 10, died on 4 May 2025.

The Tom Youngs Foundation, which was set up in his memory, said 45 people walked more than 26 miles from Mildenhall Town FC, in Suffolk, to Cambridge United's football ground, in Cambridge.

Michelle Youngs, the co-founder of the foundation and his wife, said: "It was wonderful as there was a real community spirit seeing everyone come together in Tom's name."

News imageGetty Images Headshot image of Youngs who is standing on a football pitch. He has brown short hair and is wearing an orange football T-shirt which has a black neckline. Getty Images
Youngs started his career at Cambridge United when he was aged 10

Youngs made 246 league appearances in his career and scored 51 goals, and also played forward for Northampton Town and Bury.

He made 180 appearances between 1997 and 2003, and won promotion to the third tier with Cambridge in 1998-99.

Youngs was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2014 after moving back to Bury St Edmunds to work as an accountant.

The foundation was set up by Michelle and Youngs' school friend, Chris Reeve, in September 2025.

News imageContributed Several people are walking on a small mud path which leads between a field of green grass. Three of them are in the foreground and are wearing orange T-shirts. There are people further along the track.Contributed
Forty-five people walked from the football club in Suffolk to Cambridge United's stadium

Michelle said the group started in Mildenhall at about 06:00 BST on Thursday.

The walk was the first event the foundation had hosted, with fundraising efforts reaching nearly £25,000, Michelle added.

"What has made it huge is the individual sponsorship for each walker," she said.

Money raised would be given to different charities including Bowel Cancer UK and the St Nicholas Hospice, in Bury St Edmunds, which Youngs' wife said was "phenomenal" during his decline in health.

She said some of the money raised would also be given to helping young athletes and musicians starting their careers.

"Something important to Tom was supporting young talent. He enjoyed music and playing piano," she added.

Cambridge United gifted the foundation 30 tickets for people to watch the match, which Michelle said was "incredible".

The U's draw against Swindon Town FC 1-1 at the home game on Thursday evening.

Do you have a story suggestion for Cambridgeshire? Contact us below.

Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

More on this story
Related internet links