SAINTS fan Dave Carberry will proudly wear his red V when he takes to the Wembley pitch on Saturday as part of a choir which will sing the traditional pre-match rendition of Abide With Me.

Dave, who celebrates his 70th birthday this week, was one of 32 fans across the country selected to represent their club by singing the hymn before kick-off in Saturday's Challenge Cup final.

They will be led by Songs of Praise presenter Aled Jones and the group will also appear in a special edition of the show on Sunday.

Dave, a veteran fan of 60 years who has seen Saints play more than 1,000 times, says he is excited about the "once in a lifetime opportunity".

Dave's entry, a story about his first game watching Saints in 1955 as a 10-year-old perched on his dad's shoulders in the Popular Stand at Knowsley Road, saw him selected by the judging panel, which included former player and commentator Ray French, Leeds' Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Lizzie Jones, who sang last year and BBC presenter Tanya Arnold.

"I was excited when I found out, it was overwhelming really," said Dave, who retired from working in social services last year.

"There's thousands of huge passionate fans and I'm a bit humbled but excited and all sorts of emotions when I got told," said Dave, who has been to 14 cup finals to watch Saints play after first going to Wembley in 1961 when Saints beat Wigan.

"It's not every day that anybody can walk on to the pitch at Wembley, this time everything is totally different.

"Saints have a fabulous history in the cup and I've seen most of them

"I'll be wearing my new jersey with the famous red V. I had a shirt but it's a bit old and battered so I bought a new one! It'll be an experience I never forget."