A SCHOOLBOY footballer has put his team-mates first and given up his dream of seeing his soccer heroes play in tomorrow's FA Cup final.

Saints fan Sean Wheeler, 16, has had to make one of the toughest decisions of his life this week - whether to play in a national cup final or travel to Cardiff to see Southampton take on Arsenal.

After days of deliberation, he decided to give up his coveted FA Cup final ticket and will instead keep his place in a team of under-16 footballers from Basingstoke who will contest their own cup final at the City Ground, the home of Nottingham Forest.

The midfielder helped Basingstoke Lions win their semi-final against Fowey from Cornwall on Monday night at Slough Town's ground to become southern champions in the Lions FA Charity Youth Cup - the only national competition recognised by the FA for under-16 teams.

The victory has caused a swift change of plans for the Wheeler family, from Worting Road, Basingstoke.

Dad Pat had bought an FA Cup final ticket for each of his twin sons - Sean and Arsenal fan Ashley. But after helping his Lions team through to their final, Sean has now told his manager that he will play and give up his ticket for the Millennium Stadium.

Sean, a regular supporter at Saints' St Mary's ground, said: "It's been a hard decision to make.

"Before Monday night's win I was going to the cup final. Even now I'm asking myself 'am I making the right decision?'."

The gift of a cup final ticket each for Sean and Ashley "came as a bit of a surprise", said Sean.

He explained: "Dad said some time ago 'If Saints get there, I'll get you tickets'."

Now the teenager, who attends matches at St Mary's with an uncle and a cousin, doesn't even want to look at the ticket. "I don't want anything to do with it now," he said.

He will, however, still be able to watch the match on a big screen at Nottingham because his own final has a midday kick-off.

Speaking about his son's decision, Pat said: "I'm really proud of him. It was a difficult decision to make but he's put his team first. He's quite an influential character and they would have been disadvantaged without him."

Pat will now travel to support Sean at Nottingham instead of driving the two Richard Aldworth Community School pupils to Cardiff. A friend of Ashley's will probably take Sean's place at Cardiff.

Sean's Basingstoke team, managed by Craig Effer, play under the banner of Aldershot Town Juniors and are third in the West Surrey Boys Youth League. However, they will bear the name of their home town for the cup final.

In tomorrow's match, Basingstoke will be up against northern winners Shirley Colts from Birmingham.

The Basingstoke team is sponsored by The Lions Club of Basingstoke, which has met all their expenses in this competition, and they will be wearing new sponsored kit for tomorrow's final.

Mr Effer is appealing for as much support as possible from Basingstoke. Coaches will be leaving the Camrose ground at 6am and places can be booked by telephoning him on 07944 857723.