FIRST BRICK IN THE POSH WALL
INNOVATIVE Peterborough United are set to become the first club in the EFL to build a Life Wall – and the club’s academy are set to cash in.
The wall, to be built next year, will be placed at the front of the ground, opposite the statue of club legend Chris Turner.
It will feature 700 time capsules, which fans and businesses will have an opportunity to purchase and fill with their own Posh memorabilia, costing £750 each for 25 years.
The wall will also feature an interactive screen and an app where every Posh fan will be able to share their own story and memories with each other.
Fittingly, the League One club decided to award the first capsule to life-long fan Eric Heath, 90, with U18s manager Jack Collison doing the honours.
Heath said: “Peterborough have been such a huge part of my life, from watching the first ever game at the age of eight to even having a stint playing for the reserves!
“I’ve experienced so many emotions with the Posh, and this shows what a fantastic club it really is.”
Meanwhile, players at the other end of the age range will benefit as profits from the Life Wall are to be handed over to the Posh academy – and that’s music to the ears of Collison.
The 28-year-old former West Ham and Wales star, forced to retire early due to injury, said: “I came through the Peterborough academy, from the age of nine to 12, and what I learned gave me my grounding and a base to build on.
Fortune
“Now I’m back and trying to provide the next crop of players.
“Peterborough are a club known for finding youngsters and pushing them on, but with all the rules and regulations these days it costs an absolute fortune to run an academy.
“Hopefully, the Life Wall is going to raise some money for the academy and help provide more opportunities for our young players.
“From an academy point of view, it’s fantastic news.”
Super-fan Heath added: “We need to produce top players to move the club forward, so I’m thrilled this new Posh Life Wall will massively help our young talent.”
Posh are planning to launch their new project before this afternoon’s game against Bolton Wanderers.
A temporary 8x5 metre banner of the Posh Life Wall will be on display showing what it will look like.