Matthew’s one-man branch of the Town supporters’ club

FAN SPENDS TO WATCH HIS HEROES LIVE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A YEAR

including on Sky which dubbed him the “one-man chorus”.

Matthew, a lifelong Town fan along with his dad Stephen and his late gran, Bernadette, who died last year, told The Examiner: “I just decided to go down because these types of games are not going to happen again – at least I hope so. I wanted to say that I have seen some football live this year and not many people can say that.

“I just wanted to glimpse Town. My mates were saying I am mad. I wanted to watch Town playing live.”

Matthew, whose family hail from Birkby, said he started to feel cold towards the end of the game as he was only wearing a short-sleeved Town shirt. And he says he did it all completely sober.

“I was about 20ft up the tree on a thin branch and had a good view of the pitch and the goal by the south stand. I had a bottle of juice but I dropped that about 10 minutes into the game.

“I had some Wotsits and some sweets and was tweeting with my free hand while holding on. People were requesting songs on Twitter.”

Matthew, who is studying at university in Manchester, obliged by singing Smile Awhile and a few others.

And he raised a few smiles even after Barnsley scored, singing: “One-nil up and you still don’t sing.”

Matthew stayed in the tree even at half-time, saying: “I didn’t want to risk losing my place.”

And he hung around the John Smith’s Stadium until the Town players came out.

“I spoke to Josh Koroma and asked if he heard me singing. He said ‘yeah.’”

But not everyone was impressed by Matthew’s performance.

“One of the Barnsley staff members said ‘shut up and go home, you lost.’ I know we lost but it was worth it.”