SWINDON Town’s players need only look to their supporters as they walk out at Wembley next weekend for all the inspiration they need.
It was streamers against Sheffield United, but creative fan Jay Collett has masterminded something on another level for the May 24 showdown.
The 8,000 Town fans sat behind the east end goal will find their own tile when they take their seat which, when lifted, will create an enormous mosaic.
Jay, 23, is keeping the final design close to his chest for the moment, but insists supporters and players alike are in for a treat when it all comes together in the League One play-off final.
The Bath-based web designer wanted to make a difference to the flagging atmosphere at the County Ground and Town’s travelling support when he first introduced streamers against Port Vale this season.
“It’s been inspired by how dead the atmosphere’s been – the County Ground isn’t the liveliest of home grounds around,” he said.
“Going away, the fans are always great, but as a home ground it can be a bit flat.
“I did it at Port Vale away when some of the players were getting too much stick with the way they were playing.
“To show the players we were on their side I thought it was a good idea.”
In order to make the Wembley dream a reality, he had to raise £6,000 to finance it, after speaking with a number of people responsible for such mosaics in Champions League and England matches at Wembley.
After an online appeal last week, a number of Swindon firms, including the Advertiser, pushed Jay over that target.
Contributions came from Imagine Cruising, Barnes Coaches, SAS Travel, Verelogic, Hills Group, Swindon Link, Total Sport Swindon, Beesley’s Tools, Therapy Plus and assorted fans.
The total has now gone far beyond £7,000 and Jay says any money left in the pot after Wembley will be rolled over into next season for more extravaganzas.
“I just want it to bring back some atmosphere and life back to the stands. I want it to build a relationship with the club and fans,” he said.
“I had a meeting with the club last week about this and they were very, very appreciative of what’s going on and up for helping.”
As a result of the attention he has been receiving on social media, Jay has become something a cult figure among the Swindon Town faithful.
“It’s a bit mind-blowing right now. I put a tweet out earlier saying how crazy this all is,” he said. “I was in touch with Steve Mytton and he got me some contacts.
“The trust helped with the first donation towards all this and helped me get the ball rolling.
“Fast-forward and now I’m sorting it all out for Wembley.
“It’s all a bit crazy.”
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