WILD horses were not going to stop one Saints fan from going to the FA Cup semi-final last Sunday - not even the early arrival of his baby girl!

Leon Aquilina, 37, welcomed his daughter into the world on Friday but less than 48 hours later he was off to Birmingham to cheer his team to victory.

His wife, Joanne, 28, is also a Saints fan and while she gave her blessing to Leon to go to the game she was left holding the baby.

To mark Saints' 2003 Cup run, the couple have named their daughter Francesca to give her the initials FA, ensuring they will always have their own FA Cup to treasure.

"It was a fantastic weekend - a baby girl, Saints won the semi-final and I haven't even checked my lottery numbers yet!" said Leon, 37, of Bitterne Way, Bitterne.

He described his semi-final jaunt as "excellent and a fantastic day". Leon took Joanne's mother-in-law in her place and his wife had to make do with looking at a programme he brought back as a souvenir.

He said: "My wife said giving birth to our daughter was worth missing the game for, but it was the only thing she would have missed it for! Francesca was actually due on Cup Final day May 17, so even though Joanne had to miss the semi-final, at least she will be able to go to the final.

"We thought about giving Francesca a middle name but decided against it because we wanted her initials to be FA so that we can call her FA Cup."

Leon, of Bitterne Way, Bitterne, works at the £32m Saints stadium as an executive steward and the couple even met at a game three years ago.

Currently gaining strength at the Princess Anne Hospital, Southampton, it seems Francesca will have little choice about which team she will support.

Her grandma has already bought her the smallest Saints kit available and has an attractive array of Southampton FC bibs.