Marple Eagles display will make you green with envy
MARPLE » Every year Steve Reynolds pulls out all the stops as he decorates his home for Christmas.
But for 2017 he is soaring to new heights. With the Eagles racing out to a 10-1 record and appearing a lock for the playoffs, Reynolds decided to honor the Birds by turning his South New Ardmore Avenue home into an Eagles throne.
“We do a Christmas display every year, going back to growing up in Newtown Square, but this year I decided to do an Eagles theme,” said Reynolds as he proudly showed off the creation that took him and his brothers three weekends to create. “Nearly 10,000 lights, Eagles inflatables, two cheerleading mannequins and a fully lined playing field with PVC goalposts, hash marks and touchdown pylons.”
Reynolds said while he usually waits until later in December, this year he jumped the gun with a lightning ceremony Sunday evening to show off his efforts — and the Eagles’ success.
Reynolds has football in his blood. He played both offense and defense at Marple Newtown, graduating in 2008. He is now president of the Marple Jr. Tigers football and cheerleading squads, as well as a volunteer coach at the high school, and commentator for the Tigers Radio Network.
“We hope to keep it up into February,” said Reynolds of his holiday display.”For the Super Bowl.”
One of his favorite items is the stocking to NFL referee Pete Morelli, who Eagles fans have come to revile.
“In four games he officiated for the Eagles he threw 40 flags on them and only eight on the opponent,” said Reynolds.
We assume the stocking is filled with coal.
Not forgetting the true reason for the season, a baby Jesus and creche sits in front of the home.
Green and white is everywhere, on the roof and from the trees. Reynolds created the perfectly proportioned gridiron field using just his feet as a measurement.
“This is great, a lot of people have already stopped to see it,” said Reynolds. “I want to be the Clark Griswold of Delaware County.”