England soccer fan Will Robey converts outdated van into luxurious motorhome
Football fan Will Robey has spent a year converting an old work van into a luxury motorhome – to follow England on the road this summer.
He has spent an estimated £12,000 to create the fan mobile which now comes complete with a double bed, kitchenette – and big screen projector to follow all 51 games at the Euros in Germany.
Will is leaving his home in Redhill, Surrey, early on Saturday and travelling 360 miles to the city of Gelsenkirchen, where England play their first match against Serbia the following evening.
Afterwards, Will and his twin brother Ed will follow the team to Frankfurt and then on to Cologne for the remaining games against Denmark and Slovenia.
The 29 year old twins will eat, sleep and cook in a 2014 Fiat Ducato van that Will has spent £12,000 fixing up into a top-of-the-range camper van, nicknamed affectionately ‘Mary’.
Football fan Will Robey has spent a year converting an old work van into a luxury motorhome
He has spent an estimated £12,000 to create the fan mobile which now comes complete with a double bed, kitchenette – and big screen projector to follow all 51 games at the Euros in Germany
The 29 year old twins will eat, sleep and cook in a 2014 Fiat Ducato van that Will has spent £12,000 fixing up into a top-of-the-range camper van, nicknamed affectionately ‘Mary’
The vehicle is also equipped with a sink with hot water and a fridge to keep all the beer cool
The vehicle is also equipped with a sink with hot water and a fridge to keep all the beer cool.
Salesman-turned-social media influencer Will is keeping a video diary of his Euro 2024 adventure, and regular updates will be uploaded onto his Will’s Whereabouts YouTube channel
He is right now on the road to Germany in his self-converted deluxe camper van in time to arrive for England’s first game on Sunday evening.
Will told MailOnline: ‘This is definitely something to cross off my bucket list.
‘I’ve never followed England away in a big tournament before let alone camping out along the way in a van but it’s going to be an incredible experience.
‘Mary’ is a 2014 Fiat Ducato that I have spent a year and 12 grand fixing up.
‘It was a two-seater but I’ve managed to change it to a three-seater van to give us a bit more space. It’s not huge but has all the creature comforts you’d need to spend as long as a month on the road.
The twins will be leaving early on Saturday and travelling 360 miles to the city of Gelsenkirchen, where England play their first match against Serbia the following evening
Will believes this trip with her brother is his most ambitious yet
‘Obviously how long we’re out in Germany depends on how well England do. I’m really looking forward to getting out there now because there’s going to be a wave of excitement washing over the whole country.
‘I’ve been working flat out to get the van ready in time and it’s been exhausting and stressful but that will all be forgotten about when I’m on the way to Gelsenkirchen.’
Will has 285,000 subscribers from around the world who tune into his Will’s Whereabouts YouTube page to see him converting old vans into motorhomes and then using the vehicles to go on camping trips around Britain.
He took it up initially as a hobby while he was working in sales but after the Covid pandemic he turned his building projects into a career and started filming and uploading his work on social media.
He believes this trip is his most ambitious yet and said: ‘We’ve got to get to Calais on Saturday morning and then it’s another six hours drive on to Gelsenkirchen. I’m not totally sure what route we’ll end up taking but it’s about 360-miles in total. We’ll get there before Sunday with any luck.
‘Once we’ve found a spot to park up, we’ll then go and find a bar or fan-zone to watch the game. I’d like to get a ticket but the prices being offered are astronomical.
Salesman-turned-social media influencer Will is keeping a video diary of his Euro 2024 adventure, and regular updates will be uploaded onto his Will’s Whereabouts YouTube channel
‘There’s a fridge to keep the beer cool in the van and a fan. But if the temperature drops at night I’ve also got heating to keep warm.
‘Plus there’s a projector to watch some of the other games in the tournament. It’ll be a home away from home.’
Chelsea fan Will and Fulham supporter Ed will be joined at one point in the trip by Ed’s girlfriend Florencia.
Will added: ‘It’s going to be a tight squeeze anyway, kipping next to Ed on a double mattress but when Florencia meets us out there, I’ll probably have to sleep on the floor next to the bed.
‘She’s from Argentina originally and I think she’s pledged her allegiance to Italy at Euro2024. If England and Italy do somehow meet again in the tournament, I hope we fare better than the final three years ago. Otherwise, we’re in for an awkward night!’
