A football mad 20-year-old who died suddenly this summer is to be honoured by the club he loved.

Highly regarded young referee Elijah Khaira will be in the thoughts of thousands of fellow fans when Saints take on Premier League giants Manchester United at lunchtime on Saturday (September 14).

Season ticket holder Elijah will have his picture beamed onto giant screens at the ground and be mentioned in the match day programme. 

(Image: Family collection)

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Dad Nick and friends who sat close to Elijah in the Itchen North stand are also organising a minute's applause in the 20th minute to pay tribute to their 'top boy'.

Nick, from Curdridge, told the Daily Echo: "We hope many of the supporters there will participate.

"Elijah refereed for Southampton FC at Staplewood and he was as big a Saints fan as anyone, a season ticket holder as well as going to most away games. If anyone deserves a clap, he does."

Elijah had been attending Saints games since the age of five, his last the Championship play off final victory over Leeds at Wembley.

A former student at The Gregg School and Peter Symonds College, Elijah spent his weekends officiating around Hampshire, sometimes at four or five matches, and following Southampton home and away. 

(Image: Family collection)

He had aspirations to go all the way to the top, to one day officiate for Premier League matches and maybe even a World Cup final.

Elijah, who ran the line at an Ex Saints match just a day before his tragic death and last refereed as Millbrook were promoted to the Wessex League Premier Division in May, had gone from park football to a Level 5 referee who had been put forward for Level 4 promotion by the Hampshire FA.

A marine biology student at the University of Portsmouth, Elijah is thought to have suffered a night time epileptic seizure at his student house in Southsea.

Nick, mum Samantha and sister Bo set up a giving page in his memory, which has raised nearly £8,500 for The Epilepsy Society.

Donate at elijahkhaira.muchloved.com