A Manchester United fan who spent more than 300 hours recreating
his team's stadium using 82,000 matchsticks has chalked up a home
win.
Paul Singer, 42, made a 67,000-match replica of Old Trafford five
years ago, but the security guard, from Handforth, near Wilmslow,
was prompted to build the bigger model after the north-west and
north-east corners of the `Theatre of Dreams' were extended.
Paul, a father-of-two, said: "When the company I work for - Advance
Security UK - said they would provide £600 to sponsor the model, I
decided I would do it.
"It has taken me more than three months to complete and it has been
a case of fitting it in around my work and family commitments - but
I'm very proud of the finished result.
"It is a painstaking process but I've been able to construct this
one a lot more quickly than the last one - which took me nine
months - because I really know what I'm doing."
Paul spent a day wandering around Old Trafford taking hundreds of
photos to ensure his model would be accurate.
It has executive boxes, stands and the players' tunnel. It even has
all the turnstiles in exactly the same position as they are found
in the real stadium.
But as it is made of headless modelling matches there is no
`striker'.
To ensure authenticity Paul is appealing for sponsors to advertise
on the miniature hoardings around the pitch. He said: "I am trying
to raise money for the children's charity Unicef and I'm asking
people for a contribution. We have also approached Manchester
United to see if they would like to place it on permanent display
in their museum."
His earlier model was signed by the United squad and raised £3,000
for Francis House Children's Hospice in Didsbury when it was bought
by former Reds chief executive Peter Kenyon.
To sponsor Paul's model email [email protected]
advancesecurity.co.uk
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