IT was meant to be a tribute to his love for the Saints but, with their terrible start to the season, its owner is hoping it does not end up as an eyesore.

Lifelong Saints fan Ian Black has built a massive mosaic tribute to Southampton Football Club. Constructed out of colourful tiles and measuring more than 6ft by 5ft, it dominates the Saints-themed games room in the back garden of his home in Itchen.

After nearly losing his life in a car crash, 36-year-old Ian set about building the mosaic to keep himself occupied while recovering from a broken arm and leg.

Despite being on crutches, Ian spent a month painstakingly filling in the design with broken tiles to create his masterpiece.

The mosaic takes centre stage in the games room built which also features a bar, pool table (covered in red cloth of course), nine football shirts and an assortment of paraphernalia associated with the team.

Ian, a former factory worker, said: "It took me a while but it's a labour of love really. I thought I had bitten off more than I could chew and almost scraped it off the wall to paint it instead because it took so long. It was so hard to get it to look right.

"One of my arty mates was gobsmacked when he saw it and was really surprised that I had done it because I'm not an artist.

"I was in a bad way and they were talking about cutting my leg off. It was hard because I couldn't manoeuvre well and had to wear a moon boot after breaking my leg in three places."

Built in a former portable office, the games room is not complete yet as Ian plans to add "Established in 1885" to the mural in recognition of the when the club was founded as well as covering the roof in more Saint's gear Ian added: "Friends, family and neighbours come round and have a few games of pool and have a laugh.

"It keeps us out of mischief. There's also a smaller mural built from the leftover tiles of the Two Tones record album cover in the other corner."

After the car crash in 2005 Ian spent ten months recovering but used the time to start building the games room with the help of family and friends.

Now the saint's fan is hoping that football legend Matt Le Tissier will sign the wall for a final finishing touch.