Villa fan builds miniature stadium to raise money

A football supporter has spent years building a detailed miniature version of his team's stadium, and is now using it to raise money for charity.

Aston Villa fan Alan Crampton, originally from Birmingham but now living in Northamptonshire, said the Villa Park model measured 10ft 8in by 7ft 7in and included toilets, food stands, litter and police on horseback.

Fans can "buy a seat" in the stadium by donating to his fundraiser, with proceeds supporting Do It For Defib, a charity local to him that installs and maintains public access to defibrillators.

The father of five began the project in December 2019 and worked on it while on furlough during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Crampton used old Subbuteo stands and 3D printed some using offcuts from the plastics factory where he works, while the pitch was made by a friend in South Africa..

"Because I had more time on my hands, I went into more detail than I had planned," he said.

"I had three weeks off work and all I did in that time was build the Trinity Road."

When the stadium "outgrew the room it was in", Mr Crampton built a "man cave" in his garden, complete with a bar.

Mr Crampton, who paints a tiny figure for every donor, has raised £4,100 of his £5,500 target to fund two defibrillators.

"I've got four lads and a daughter. They all love it and they're very proud," he said. "Work mates all think that I'm mad, Facebook friends say I'm absolutely obsessive, and I think my wife would agree with that."

He added: "I'm a sad old man, but there are plenty of us around. I chose to build Villa Park instead of a model railway."

Mr Crampton continues to document the project for fans on his My Villa Park Build Facebook Page.

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