IT is surely the true spirit of the Saints.

A diehard Southampton supporter is celebrating just being able to go to Wembley, thanks to a fellow fan he’s never even met. The season ticket holder, who preferred not to be identified, was horrified to discover the 16 tickets he’d ordered for himself and a minibus-full of mates had been sent to someone else.

But despite all Saints’ 44,000 seats having been snapped up weeks ago and spare tickets like gold dust around the city, the wrong recipient recognised the plight of a fellow supporter in need.

Instead of earning hundreds of pounds for himself by selling them on, he ensured the 16 strangers will get the day out they have been waiting for and can join the red and white army travelling up the M3 to north London.

“I’m just really grateful to him, because without him doing that we would’ve been stuck without tickets,” said the relieved fan. “Doubtless there are people out there who would not have done and could have sold them on – he could easily have just held onto them and sold them to make a quick buck.

“I was really worried when they said they’d sent them to someone else.

“It was a pretty nervy 48 hours, but he was brilliant – he sent them back to the club the same day he got them, and thankfully they’re now in our possession.

“I couldn’t get the guy’s name for data protection reasons, but I’ve posted messages online and spoken to him now to say thank you.

“There’s 16 of us in a minibus, and we’re now just looking forward to a party going up there.

“It should be a great day.”