With so many players and a manager involved in the Champions league final in Madrid in two weeks time it is only right that Southampton FC be acknowledged as the club who made the whole day possible.

If Carlsberg made reunions then they would sub contract it to UEFA and the Champions League Final on June 1st when the biggest collection of ex Saints will assemble at the Wanda Metropolitano home of Atletico Madrid.

Liverpool have Virgil Van Dijk, Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, Nathaniel Clyne, Sadio Mane Alex Oxlade Chamberlain & even Danny Ings until he completes his permanent move officially on their books, whilst Spurs have Paulo Gazzaniga, Toby Alderweireld, Victor Wanyama & manager Mauricio Pochettino , between them there is enough to put out a full team if Pochettino pulls on his boots again.

Never in the history of football has one club supplied so many of their ex players to one game in the final of any tournament..

UEFA had been keen to provide a suitable tribute to Saints for this feat, they have considered several options, including having Saints Chairman Gao Jisheng present the trophy to the winners, renaming the trophy the Les Reed Cup in the style that the original World Cup was called the Jules Rimet trophy and switching the final to St Mary's so that no side would have a clear home advantage in the game.

They had also toyed with the idea of calling this the Saintsions League Final, but felt that might be neeeded to be saved or the 2020/21 final where Ralph Hasenhuttl's men are early favourites with the bookmakers.

In the end they suddenly realised that they had the solution right in front of their noses when an official pointed out what a great pre match it would be with Liverpool belting out their anthem You'll Never Walk Alone and how it would make everyone's hairs stand on end.

The official had also pointed out what a shame it was that Tottenham Hotspur had no original anthem themselves bar Ossie's Dream & Tottenham Tottenham both written by Chas & Dave, sadly with Chas sadly passing away last year the option of having them lead the singing at the final was not possible.

It should also be pointed out that the song Nice One Cyril was discussed and quickly discounted.

Then a bright spark on the UEFA committee proposed an idea, he pointed out that with Spurs history of plagiarism in stealing other club's songs and anthems perhaps Spurs fans could be persuaded to sing Oh When The Saints Go Marching In to honour Southampton FC . a song that every football fan in every corner of the World associate and acknowledge as the St Mary's club anthem.

The idea gained momentum after a unknown tribe in the Amazon rain forest was discovered recently and as one of the explorers inadvertently whistled OWTSGM, was asked by one of the tribal elders how Matt Le Tissier was and how the club was doing..

But could Spurs fans themselves be persuaded to sing another club's anthem at what would be their biggest game, surely they would want to belt out Ossie's Dream or Tottingham Tottingham so that it would be a special day and a fitting tribute to Chas out of Chas & Dave.

A quick e mail to the Tottenham Hotspur supporters club revealed that yes Spurs fans would very much be up for it, when asked if singing another club's anthem would not sit well with Spurs supporters, the reply " It's what we do" was just what UEFA wanted to hear.

Despite it tempting fate it was agreed that Spurs fans would have a run through in their final home game of the season against Everton.

The rehearsal went splendidly and it was just like Spurs fans had been singing it, if not for all of their lives, at least the last 10 years.

It was almost as if they were born to do it, they did so with a passion not seen outside of Britain's Got Talent for taking someone else's song and trying to make it your own.

So UEFA had it's tribute to Southampton FC finally sorted.

The Ugly Inside can now reveal the schedule so that Saints fans can tune in and watch with tears streaming down their cheeks.

Southampton FC Tribute Champions League Final June 1st 2019

7.30 (BST) Liverpool fans entertain crowd with an assortment of original terrace anthems.

7.35 (BST) Spurs fans respond with a selection of songs made famous by other clubs or Chas & Dave.

7.45(BST) LIverpool begin tear jerking rendition of their classic anthem "You'll Never walk alone" accompanied by large flags banners and scarves.

7.45:10 secs (BST) Spurs fans will begin a version of "Oh when the Saints go marching in" accompanied by a medley of half and half scarves. This will be sung with gusto but without an ounce of originality.

7.50 (BST) As the teams emerge Spurs will offer a rendition of various songs from the 1980's including "Sign on Sign on" "Have you got a job" and of course "On the dole on the dole on the dole" it should be said that there could also be a new song aired about car radios and hub caps.

7.55(BST) Teams presented to Matthew Le Tissier

8.00(BST) Most of the ex Saints players take their place either on the bench or in the stands to watch the game.

Photo: Action Images

TallSaint added 11:26 - May 17 An end of season UEFA sponsored testimonial in Saints honour. How kind.
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underweststand added 12:00 - May 17 Rumoured that Rickie Lambert will make a guest appearance before the kick-off and give a wave to the crowd..(also he is giving both sides the chance to get some pre-match practice in " how to score every time" - in case the match goes to a penalty shoot-out).
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