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FAMILY MATTERS: Linda and Billy Howard with son John.

AN Eastleigh couple are dreaming of cup glory on two fronts after supporting their sons' footballing activities for around 20 years.

Billy and Linda Howard have seen their sons, Brian and John, playing for various clubs over the years with a fair amount of success. But there has never been a season like 2007-8.

They were there to see Brian, 25, skipper Barnsley to their unforgettable victories over Liverpool and Chelsea on the way to the FA Cup semi-finals, scoring the last-minute winner at Anfield.

Meanwhile, John, 22, has also scored a vital goal ... for Romsey Town Reserves, to beat Otterbourne 1-0 and take them into the final of the Southampton Senior Cup, to be played at St Mary's Stadium.

Proud mum, Linda, hasn't been able to avoid football, one way or another.

"I have two brothers and they were always into football and my husband is one of five who played in the same team; then my two sons were iplaying and it's been my life ever since," she said.

Brian's first club was Earls, but, from the age of 10, he was on Southampton's books and a member of the club's academy, eventually being released and having two seasons with Swindon before joining Barnsley.

"I said that if Portsmouth could beat Manchester United, Barnsley could beat Chelsea, and there's not one player who lets the others down.

"I'm so pleased for John, too. I'm so proud of both of them and we'll all be going to his final at St Mary's. Brian is flying down for that one," said Linda.

John, who was also on Saints' books for a spell, played for the Bramley Rovers and Hedge End Rangers' boys' teams before being badly injured.

That put him out of the game for a spell, but he came back via the Wessex League with Totton, Eastleigh and Lymington and New Milton before joining Romsey. He also had trials with Glasgow Rangers, Bournemouth and Rushden and Diamonds Billy, an assembly fitter who is about to be made redundant with the move of his company to Cambridge, is equally proud of both sons and strongly feels that John could have had a professional career, too, had he not been injured as a youngster.

"He started playing when he was nine and he was good as a striker and in goal. But he got a bad injury in a cup game at Portsmouth and that put him off for a while.

"But I'm pleased he has helped his team to their cup final and we'll all be there," he said.

The Southampton Senior Cup final between Romsey Town Reserves and VTFC (Vosper Thornycrofts) will be on Thursday, April 24, kicking off at 7.30pm.

Barnsley's FA Cup semi-final against Cardiff will be at Wembley on Sunday, April 6, kicking off at 4pm.

1:03pm Wednesday 26th March 2008

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