HE WAS the young Saints fan pictured being cradled in his father’s arms after a crushing defeat at Bristol Rovers in 2008.

A decade on and Louie Fray’s life has been cut tragically short, dying of a brain tumour two days before his 16th birthday.

His family are now calling for fellow supporters to give him the send off he deserves.

Louie’s family hope to lead a minute’s applause during the 15th minute of the upcoming clash with Stoke.

It will mark 10 years since Louie cried into his father’s arms, when Saints lost 1-0 away to Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup. Future Saints star Rickie Lambert scored the winner, taking Rovers into the quarter finals.

Over the years Louie went on many “mad adventures” with his father and brother to Saints away games across the country, travelling as far afield as Hartlepool and Carlisle.

With his illness worsening, last season’s North East trinity - Hull City, Sunderland and Middlesbrough - became his final three adventures.

Louie was diagnosed with a germ cell brain tumour in September 2012.

He received regular treatment which allowed him to lead a relatively normal life, and he was a keen sportsman who was well respected by his teachers and team mates.

However, in 2016, the tumour damaged Louie’s optic nerve.

He was given a course of chemotherapy, but the tumour was unresponsive.

In August Louie went into hospital for a routine biopsy, and never went home. Doctors operated as the tumour had become aggressive, but Louie did not recover.

He died surrounded by his family at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

Louie’s father Kevin Fray said: “Louie was heroic, facing his illness with dignity and courage. He was fun-loving, funny and, above all, an avid Saints fan.”

He added: “None of us ever imagined we would be ‘remembering’ Louie at this early stage of his life. But if we must, let it not be the day he was born, nor the day he died, but to always remember the days in between.”