IT SEEMED like a dream come true for teenage disabled Saints fan Lee Venn – a ticket to watch his beloved team in the world famous San Siro stadium tonight.

Instead the 17-year-old will be watching his heroes take on Inter Milan in the Europa League in front of the telly in his Southampton home after a ticket mix-up.

Family friend and fellow season ticket holder Andy Barker had purchased what he thought were two wheelchair accessible tickets for him and Lee for the match.

They had spent £500 booking flights for them both and Lee’s mother, Donna Venn.

All three were devastated when they discovered the tickets were on the upper tier of the Milan stadium, impossible for Lee to get to.

Lee, who was born with spina bifida, said: “I’m really upset and disappointed that I can’t go the San Siro, it’s such a big match for them and me.

“I had my tickets all ready and was excited about my first trip abroad and then I was told that I couldn’t go, I’m devastated.”

His mum added: “He’s been a Southampton fan right from birth. I am really upset for him, this was going to be his first flight abroad, and he’s been going to the matches for five or six years now.

“We were going to travel down and fly from Gatwick, he’s not stopped talking about it. I don’t feel as though the tickets for disabled fans are very well organised.

“We’d even bought him the European home match package before this happened.”

According to Southampton FC, Andy did not follow the advice issued to disabled supporters ahead of the match.

They said he should have arranged for tickets through the supporters relation team and added that by the time he realised his tickets did not include disabled access the club could only refund him the cost.

Tree surgeon Andy, who disputes this, said: “For a young person like Lee, football is his life. We have cancelled all our travel and will take a hit financially, but it’s nothing compared to how Lee feels.

“I booked them online and phoned the sales team and they talked me through it and said that our names would be added to a list of wheelchair users. When we were on the list, we thought that meant we had disabled tickets.”

When the tickets came a week ago, both Andy and Lee’s mother Donna, noticed they didn’t look right.

A spokesperson for Saints said: “All supporters requesting disabled tickets for this game were advised to contact our supporter relations team.

“When we received the disabled ticket information from Inter Milan we then contacted everyone on that list.

“Mr Barker contacted the ticket office after purchasing general admission seats who ensured he was on the list. However, having only attended one away game, he was below others in priority for disabled spaces.”

Yesterday Andy was contacted by the football club as two more disabled access tickets were made available for the game, which kicks off at 6pm tonight.

But he said: “It’s too short notice and Lee is beside himself. Inter Milan made them available but we won’t be able to go.

“We’ll get some friends and family round to watch it on the telly – but it won’t be the same as the San Siro.”