Fans answer late call to star in road safety advert

More than thirty fans enjoyed answering a late appeal to star as extras in a television advert promoting road safety at Whitstable Town on Monday.

A TV production company spent more than five hours at The Belmont filming the advert for a Kent County Council campaign which will be seen by millions when it is screened in May in ITV's Meridian region.

Oystermen officials sent out their SOS to fans at lunchtime on Sunday to help Transmission Productions Ltd film two out of three segments of the advert at the ground. As well as several young players, the club's goalkeeping coach and U18s manager Stewart Wickham doubled up as a referee to help out the two actors drafted in.

In a scene warning motorists about the dangers of answering their mobiles while driving, a keeper is filmed answering his phone when he's about to face a penalty. The advert's conclusion, a road traffic accident illustrating the damage created when using a mobile, was filmed in the entrance to the ground with the help of the fans and special effects.

Whitstable Town chairman Gary Johnson said he jumped at the chance for the club to help promote the campaign's road safety message after they were asked whether they might be interested in lending a hand.

Johnson said: "Road safety is paramount to all within the community, we all have a part to play in promoting sensible and safe driving. It is of course particularly important to us a club as we travel around the South East with our longest journey this season a 230 mile round trip.

"It’s been great for the club to be involved and good that a number of supporters were able to join us too. Our thanks to Kent County Council for the opportunity to be involved, we certainly enjoyed the experience!"

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