A Portsmouth teacher visited his former pupils in Ghana recently and donated a Pompey strip to the local football team, and now they will be cheering on the team in the FA Cup Final.

Stephen Tregidgo, of Britten Road, Lee-on-the-Solent, and his wife Jan were visiting their nephew Luke, who is volunteering at St Martin's Secondary School in Nsawam-Adoagryi, during his gap year.

The 25-year-old followed in the footsteps of his uncle, great uncle and father to Ghana. The three older generations spent time teaching in the town just north of the capital city of Accra, several years ago.

In return for the Portsmouth FC shirts, the locals gifted to Luke a traditional woven Ghana shirt.

Mrs Tregidgo, 57, said: 'Luke made friends and trained with a local village football team and we took out a set of Pompey shirts for them, generously given to us by Linvoy Primus's Faith in Football charity. They were so pleased to receive them it was wonderful.

'I have no doubt they will be watching the FA Cup final and cheering Portsmouth on. We met the football team's families in very basic homes and we were made to feel so welcome we just felt like royalty.'

She added: 'My husband did some voluntary teaching back in 1970 in Ghana and we visited the same school and met his old pupils. It was very special.

'My father-in-law went out in the early 1950s to teach because he could see no hope for his family in this country at the time.

'He wrote a series of English text books and they were published by Longmans. They are still used in Ghana schools today.'

The Tregidgos toured all the local homes used by their family during past visits and shared memories with the current inhabitants. They also visited a local church which is linked with Holy Trinity in Fareham.

Mrs Tregidgo added: 'We even went to the home of one of my husband's girlfriends and found her sister and mother still there. They remembered Stephen and spoke to the girlfriend on the telephone.

'They are a great people who have so little but are prepared to share whatever they have. I had a wonderful trip and can't wait to go back.'