HUNDREDS of people gathered to say goodbye to the man who was 'Saints 'til he died'.

Steve Brown's friends and family donned red and white stripes to pay their respects today.

The 55-year-old has been buried wearing his favourite 'Saints 'til I die' t-shirt with the flag of his precious team draped over his coffin and a flower wreath of the Southampton FC badge.

The name Browner was written across the back of many mourners Saints shirts as they stood outside sharing stories of Steve.

His family wanted it to be the perfect send off for the grandfather-of-seven, who died three weeks ago after battling an infection which was attacking his nerves.

Steve leaves behind his wife Paula, 52 and three children Steven, 34 Sabrina, 32 and David, 28.

Daily Echo: Steve Brown, centre, with Matt Le Tissier and Lawrie McMenemy

Sabrina said: “It was a lovely ceremony and everyone looks great in their Southampton colours, dad would be amazed. He was a good man and absolutely adored his team, he was Saints through and through - the ultimate fan. His funeral is something we all want to do for him as a family to say goodbye, my dad lived for Saints and it's only right that we give him the proper send off.”

The family went for a final walk around St Mary's Stadium before heading to St Mary's church, where everything was covered in the Saints colours.

Steve lived in the city centre worked as a laminator and his family can't remember him ever missing a match.

“Going to matches was something all the men did together, dad was always mental he was the loudest one there shouting all the songs it's hard to put into words just how much he loved them, he was so passionate and even stuck with them when they went down to League One.

“As a dad he was amazing and we will all sorely miss him, he adored his grandchildren and my mum.”

Before he died, Steve's family organised a special visit from some Southampton royalty at the hospital, asking Matt Le Tissier and Lawrie McMenemy to make his dreams come true.

“It was amazing he absolutely loved it and they just spent an afternoon drinking tea and chatting. Dad died when Saints were knocked out of the FA Cup by Crystal Palace, in a way it's good that he didn't see that. We will really miss him, today is our Southampton football crazy dad's goodbye.”