SWINDON was buzzing as football fans and residents made final preparations for the trip to Wembley.

Many Swindon Town supporters wore their red shirts with pride as they strolled up Regent Street.

The town centre was decked with football souvenir sellers offering red and white flags, hats and T-shirts with slogans like ‘Wilson’s Swindon Barmy Army’ and ‘Marching on Wembley Way’.

A few shops had good luck messages in the window.

One lady in a motorised wheelchair even had a good luck Swindon message pinned to the front and back of her chair.

Fan Jonathan Ellis, 29, from Grasmere, Liden, said: “The town is buzzing, everyone I have spoken to is really excited about it, there’s going to be a lot of people going to Wembley for the first time.

“I haven’t been able to get much sleep during the week as every day’s been getting closer to the final and the excitement’s been building more and more.”

He said he hoped the 31,000 ticket buyers would be convinced to attend matches more regularly afterwards.

“It’s a brilliant occasion – now we have got something to play for,” he added. Jane Oldacre, 62, of Park North, has been a supporter for 30 years and has watched Swindon at Wembley twice before against Sunderland and Leicester.

She said: “I wear my shirt with pride, let’s hope the weather’s nice as well.

“I think we’ll win we’ve got a good team.”

Mona Humphreys, 38, of Ecklington, Eldene, was buying a supporters’ horn.

She said: “I can’t wait, it’s going to be fantastic – come on Swindon.

“They have done really well, they have done the town proud.”

Her niece Lauren Southgate, 18, from Shepherd Street in the town centre, said: “The atmosphere is going to be brilliant, it’s amazing for the town.

“We have just seen three people wearing T-shirts.”

Martha Parry, 64, from the Railway Village, was buying a red shirt from a stall, and will be going to the match with sons Dylan, 30, and Alan, 34.

She said: “Twelve years ago when they went up the last time I took my 13-year-old and 17-year-old sons – tomorrow they’re taking me.”

The Thomas Cook office, on Regent Street, had a good luck message in its window.

Travel consultant Lyn Major said she supported the club and many years ago had handed out programmes at the County Ground.

She said: “Thomas Cook are happy to support their local teams.”

Customer services manager Elspeth Gessey said they were expecting a quieter Saturday due to the football.

She said: “On a Bank Holiday it should be heaving, but we’re behind the team.”