But now, 69 years later, after almost giving up hope of ever having another chance, Emma Smith will return to Wembley to cheer on her team.

Emma, 89, pictured left, was gutted to miss out on the 1939 final, because of the imminent arrival of her baby daughter.

So her family have arranged for her to go to Wembley on Saturday to make up for the game that she missed all those decades ago.

Mrs Smith received her ticket on Sunday as a surprise from her family.

She said: ‘It was a wonderful surprise. I am so excited. All I have ever wanted to do is to go and see Pompey at Wembley and I hope I go and have a lovely day.

‘This was my one wish and I pray to god that they win.

‘I didn’t think I would ever go, but I am going.’

And Mrs Smith kept the love for Pompey in her family, as many years later her daughter Sylvia married a Pompey player, John Phillips, in the 1950s.

‘We are all proud fans. I’ve followed Pompey all my life,’ she added.

Mrs Smith used to go to Fratton Park regularly. She attended every game in the cup run in 1939 and she even had a ticket to the final, but her doctor advised her not to make the trip to London in her condition.

Now, Mrs Smith watches games on the television and cheers them on from her home in Warblington Street in Old Portsmouth.

She has even got her outfit planned for the final – she’ll be wearing all blue, including a Pompey shirt.

Grandaughter Suzy Horton, 42, said she was thrilled that her gran had finally got the chance to live her dream.

‘It’s just something that she has always talked about because she missed out last time.

‘It’s like a dream come true for her.

‘To see her face when we gave her the tickets was amazing. It’s so exciting.’