The Moonraker becomes sponsor of new County Ground sensory room as part of commitment to reinvest in community

The Moonraker is delighted to have played a small part in the creation of a sensory room at the County Ground.

On Tuesday (December 9), Swindon mayor Fay Howard formally opened the facility, which is situated in the Don Rogers Stand concourse.

It has been professionally equipped with football-themed sensory equipment such as bubble tubes, ambient lighting, tactile resources, and soothing soundscapes – creating an oasis of calm for supporters with autism, ADHD, and sensory processing needs.

The project has been driven by Swindon’s disability liaison officer Caroline Lane, and has received funding and support from Trust STFC, the STFC Supporters’ Club, the Swindon Business Group, the STFC Community Foundation.

Individual fans have also contributed via GoFundMe campaigns, while the club has been successful in generating further funds through grants.

The Moonraker is sponsoring the room for the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign, and has additionally donated two weighted sensory blankets.

Founder Sam Morshead said: “One of the main aims of The Moonraker is to create value for the community, and helping with backing for the sensory room seems to be me to be a very sensible use of subscription revenue.

“The project is a massive community success story, with so many groups and individuals from across the fan diaspora coming together to ensure this important facility has been made possible.

“I congratulate everyone involved – from Caroline, without whose remarkable drive this would have never happened, to all the supporter groups who have contributed money and time.

“This is a fabulous case study in good people coming together to deliver good things, and I’m very proud to have been able to reinvest money taken in subs payments back into a facility that will benefit the community.”