HE is affectionately known as Mr Southampton - and Saints fans are planning the ultimate memorial to him.

Ted Bates dedicated 66 years to Southampton Football Club, filling almost every role.

On Sunday supporters and businesses will unite in their efforts to commission a bronze statue of the Saints legend.

The Ted Bates Trust fundraising dinner, to be held at St Mary's Stadium, aims to raise part of the £100,000 needed to install a permanent statue at the ground.

Such was the dedication of Mr Bates to Saints, chairman Rupert Lowe, pictured left, has promised that the club will match every penny raised by fans, who have established the Ted Bates Trust.

Luxury items to be auctioned at the dinner include a limited edition Michael Owen Tissot watch donated by city jewellers Parkhouse and Wyatt.

Special guests will include former Saints players Danny Wallace and Francis Benali.

Paying tribute to Mr Bates, who was a fixture at the club from 1937 until his death in November 2003, Mr Lowe said: "Southampton Football Club owe Ted Bates a huge debt of gratitude.

"His years of service and dedication laid the foundations of our success and helped build the club up from humble beginnings to the fantastic stadium that we have today.

"I am sure the length and depth of that service will never be equalled. He did every job here from player, coach, manager, chief executive, director to president over 66 years and he really was 'Mr Southampton'.

"It was a privilege to work with him and we are supporting the fans' campaign to erect a statue in his honour outside the stadium.

"The club will be matching every pound raised by the fans and I am delighted to see such great support for Sunday's fundraising dinner."