THEIR displays have created a sea of yellow at recent Oxford United games – and now the Oxford Fanatics are planning a special tribute to Joey Beauchamp.

The group are set to give the U’s legend a fitting send-off at Saturday’s home match against Cambridge United, which promises to be an emotional occasion.

Following Beauchamp’s death last weekend, the Fanatics launched a fundraiser to go towards the display.

The response was incredible, as hundreds of donations propelled them to the £5,500 target in just 22 hours.

“I was thinking we might have to do something with our funds, because it would take the whole week to make the money,” says Joe Mercer, who helped form the group.

“But this was next level. Our fanbase is so good, if we all band together we can literally do anything.

“It really hit home how much he meant to everyone.”

Read also: Oxford United fans urged to contribute to Joey Beauchamp book

Generous U’s supporters have raised more than £7,000 and the Fanatics are promising to donate the surplus cash to mental health charity Mind.

Mercer revealed the group is planning to unfurl a surfer flag with a banner behind, but the display will not stop there.

The 21-year-old said: “There will be more depending on ticket sales.

“We’re working with the club to really push sales in the East Stand.

“It’s our first display that’s meant a lot. There was no doubt we’d do something for this game.

“We knew we had to do something to honour him.

“Saturday’s going to be an emotional day, but also a day of celebration.”

Mercer will be at the Kassam Stadium from 9am on Saturday to ensure everything is ready in time for that afternoon’s game.

The Northampton University student, from Chalgrove, formed the Fanatics with fellow U’s fan Archie Simms and it has grown to a core of ‘10 to 15 people’, plus others.

They began organising regular displays at the start of this year, adding some welcome colour that the Kassam Stadium has missed since the Oxford Ultras disbanded in 2019.

Mercer said: “We needed to bring back what the Ultras did with the colours and flags.

“They all wanted it to continue but had other commitments.

“In the first two or three months of the season the atmosphere wasn’t good. Everyone’s noticed the difference.”

He added: “From the off, the club have been so helpful.

“We’ve made sure everything’s going through the right channels because without their support we can’t do anything.”

Read also: Karl Robinson's moving tribute to Joey Beauchamp

United head coach Karl Robinson paid tribute to fans’ efforts to remember Beauchamp.

He said: “It doesn’t shock me. The community of Oxfordshire is incredible.

"Being from Liverpool, you felt that when something happened everybody came together and you disconnected yourself from everybody else.

"The whole of Oxfordshire becomes really united at a difficult time.

"It’s a really special thing to have that.

“When you incorporate the fanbase and make them feel like they’re part of what we’re trying to achieve they’re outstanding.

“We’ve seen that in how they’ve conducted themselves.

“It’s sad that we’re talking about this, but the fans have gone above and beyond once again.”