Commander Andrew “Scooby” Plenty, a Royal Navy officer with more than 33 years of service, is preparing to walk more than 300 miles from RNAS Culdrose Football Club in Cornwall to Portsmouth FC’s Fratton Park, raising vital funds for the Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC).
The 15-day challenge, starting on 1 August 2026, combines two lifelong passions – Royal Navy football and Portsmouth Football Club – while supporting a charity that has made a lasting impact throughout his career.
Scooby joined the Royal Navy in 1993 as a Naval Airman 2nd Class Meteorological and Oceanographic Observer before commissioning as an Air Traffic Control Officer in 2001. He now serves as the Air Traffic Management SO1 in Force Generation Naval Aviation Division at Navy Command Headquarters.
Originally from the Isle of Wight, he has lived in Cornwall since joining RNAS Culdrose, where he met his wife, Vicky, who was serving as a WRNS METOC in the Met Office. Married for 30 years, they have two children and two young grandchildren.
Alongside his Naval career, Scooby is Chairperson of RNAS Culdrose FC, Vice-Chairperson of the Royal Navy Football Association and Chairperson of the Portsmouth Armed Forces Supporters Club. The fundraising walk will mark an emotional farewell as he steps down from his chairperson roles.
As Chairperson of a Service Unit Sports Club at RNAS Culdrose FC, Scooby has seen the direct impact of RNRMC funding through improvements to the club’s sports pavilion, creating a more versatile space that benefits Service personnel and the wider Naval community.
Choosing to support RNRMC was an easy decision.
“I’ve seen first-hand the incredible work that RNRMC does across the Naval Service, particularly at RNAS Culdrose,” said Scooby. “I’ve also seen the fantastic support provided by Veterans Outreach Support in Portsmouth. I wanted to give something back to a charity that genuinely improves the lives of serving personnel, veterans and their families.”
While Scooby expects the opening stages along Cornwall’s rugged South West Coast Path to be among the toughest, the challenge has already had a positive impact, improving his mental and physical wellbeing and giving him a renewed sense of purpose through training.
” I am under no illusions how physically challenging this is going to be,” he admitted. “I’m no spring chicken, but I think the biggest challenge will be mental. The Cornish coastline will test me early on, but I’m glad that’s at the start rather than the finish.”
As a lifelong Portsmouth FC supporter who regularly travels home and away to follow the club, Scooby already knows the moment he is most looking forward to.
“Walking up Goldsmith Avenue and onto Frogmore Road before arriving at Fratton Park will be incredibly special. That’s the moment I’ve been imagining throughout my training.”
Scooby hopes his challenge will inspire others to push themselves in support of the Naval community.
“My advice is to plan early, train gradually and don’t worry if you never feel completely ready. I don’t think anyone is ever 100 per cent prepared for a challenge like this – but that’s part of the experience.”
For Scooby, Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity represents the very best of the Naval family.
“RNRMC reflects the Royal Navy and Royal Marines as a community – looking out for each other, looking after our own and leaving no one behind.”
As he embarks on this remarkable 300-mile journey from Culdrose to Fratton Park, every step will help ensure RNRMC can continue supporting serving personnel, veterans and families whenever they need it most.
If you’d like to support Scooby’s Pompey Pilgrimage, visit his fundraising page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/andrew-plenty-1
