by Ian Westbrook

Everyone is optimistic and looking forward to it and that is how it should be Rod Gowers

At 9.30 on Friday morning, Martin Allen and his Brentford players boarded the team coach for the long trip to Hartlepool for Saturday's FA Cup fourth round replay.

At the same time, five Bees supporters also set off from Griffin Park for Hartlepool, but instead of the comfort of the bus, they are making the journey to the sides' League game later this month - on foot.

The intrepid quintet are undertaking the marathon trip to honour a promise made by one of them last season and also to raise money.

With a third of the last campaign remaining, Brentford looked doomed to relegation and fan Pete Hayward posted a message on a supporters' website saying that if they stayed up, he would walk to this season's away game at Hartlepool.

Fellow fans Pete Atkinson and John Dempsey quickly agreed to join him.

Walk co-ordinator Rod Gowers told BBC Sport: "At the time the pledge was made it didn't look as if we would survive but Martin Allen arrived (as manager) and everything changed. He kept us up and we felt that pledge had to be honoured."

Gowers agreed to take part in the summer and the group was completed when fanzine editor Dave Lane committed himself in the autumn.

The trip will raise money for the Helen Rollason Cancer Care Centre Appeal and Brentford's Supporters' Trust, Bees United, and the group have already passed their �10,000 target in sponsorship pledges.

Fellow walker Dempsey told BBC Sport: "I am so proud we have raised that amount of money, it is absolutely amazing.

"I am personally very apprehensive about whether I can complete the walk but my heart will get me through it and I will go through the pain barrier as both causes are fantastic."

The group have a planned itinerary to complete the walk in 12 days, missing Brentford's FA Cup fourth round replay with Hartlepool and a possible fifth round tie at Southampton, or an important League game with Tranmere, in the process.

"Nobody really thought about that sort of thing," says Gowers. "If we had worried about missing games then we would not have been focused on what we have to do."

Rod Gowers has co-ordinated all aspects of the marathon trek

The group are promised a good reception when they finally arrive at Hartlepool - hopefully around lunchtime on February 22, hours before the two sides meet in League action.

"From what I understand the people at the supporters-run Corner Spot pub want to welcome us and Martin Allen and the team also want to meet up with us and what we do will all be decided on the day," says Gowers.

They have also been promised a welcome lift home on the team bus, but what happens if bad weather causes the game to be postponed?

"It's not going to be and if there was a threat of bad weather, I am sure Martin would have a word in higher places for us," insists Gowers, who is relishing the whole experience.

"It's going to be great. Everyone is looking forward to it and is optimistic and that is how it should be."