Football-crazy Andy Sloan has followed the World Cup around the globe, playing in stadiums in 26 different countries.

But the 27-year-old from Horsham didn't do it the traditional way.

Andy lugged a football table around the world to take on the masters of the sport.

Andy and his friend Matt Holyfield spent months travelling thousands of miles with their increasingly battered 4ft 6in by 2ft table. On the way to challenge the world's 23 football associations they met stars including Michael Owen, Sven- Goran Eriksson, Pel, Gareth Southgate and Rio Ferdinand.

They decided to embark on the trip after Andy and Matt finished at university.

Andy said: "It was a ridiculous bet that got out of hand. Matt and I were on a train talking about going travelling after university.

"We came up with this. People said, you'll never be able to do it, it's such a closed world. We thought, we think we can."

Andy, a Bristol University graduate, and Matt, who went to Staffordshire University, worked to raise money for the trip.

It took place in summer 2001 in the run-up to the World Cup.

They were accompanied for part of the journey by Andy's brother Malcolm and Mike Milnes, a friend from Huddersfield, who took out a bank loan to join them before returning to university for his final year.

Andy, a Spurs fan and football fanatic from an early age, said: "It was a football pilgrimage. We'd turn up and try to get on to the pitch and all these forbidden places.

"We quickly learnt to forget about official channels and find the man with the key."

Once in, the fans would try to find famous names to join them in a game or sign the table.

It bears the signatures of players such as Pel, Eriksson and Owen.

Andy managed to beat Gareth Southgate, who enjoyed the game so much he didn't want to leave and had to be ushered away by his minder.

One of the highlights, said Andy, now a lawyer living in Stockwell, south London, was visiting Tehran.

He said: "It's part of George Bush's so-called axis of evil'. It was amazingly friendly and hospitable."

The Iranians arranged for the fans to watch the Iran vs Iraq qualifying match. The Iranian team also invited them to go to Ireland to watch them play.

In time, the trip picked up sponsorship from Nationwide, the BBC and ITV.

The table, now complete with dozens of signatures and a few dents, is being auctioned on eBay to raise money for the BBC Sport Relief fund, a Comic Relief initiative to help vulnerable people leading tough lives here in the UK and the world's poorest countries. The auction closes on May 10.

Andy has written a book called 23 Sweet FAs, which will be launched at Ottakars in 8 The Carfax, Horsham, tonight from 7pm. Andy, whose parents live in Brighton Road, Horsham, will be on hand to sign copies and answer questions.

The book is published by Virgin, priced at £7.99 and can be reserved by calling 01403 268088 or ask in the store.

Find out more about the trip at www.23sweetfas.com. The website is designed by Chris Nash, also from Horsham, a graduate of York and Trinity College Dublin.