Pompey fan gets a dreaded Saints tattoo for charity

The 29-year-old got a tattoo of a Southampton FC banner inked underneath his beloved Portsmouth FC crest on his right leg.

The dad-of-two spent just over an hour getting the permanent marking at Havant Ink, in West Street, Havant, today, after he raised more than £300 for three charities.

He said: ‘I won’t be putting shorts on ever. It’s the red that’s going to do me in. I have always been blue because I have always followed Pompey.’

Builder James, who is currently working on a site near Fratton Park, was inspired to fundraise after his friend’s little girl Lola-Mai Burns was diagnosed with cancer, so he thought up the madcap way of getting sponsorship, to raise cash for the Portsmouth and Southampton Hospitals Trusts, and Cancer Research UK.

Lola-Mai, two, was treated at both Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth and Southampton General Hospital, and her family is fundraising for the hospital trusts.

James said that after speaking to Saints fans online, he was goaded into the tattoo. He initially pledged to book the tattoo when he reached £200, but he has now raised more than £300.

‘I didn’t think it would as well as it has done,’ he said.

James has various other tattoos and he got his Pompey crest tattooed on to his leg when he was 18 – his first legal tattoo.

He said: ‘Having Southampton right next to the Pompey crest is sacrilege, but it was good to raise money for charity.

‘I have had people donating from all over, but mainly from Southampton.’

James, from Havant, now has his sights set on another fundraiser, due to the success of his tattoo.

He said: ‘Thanks to the people who supported me.

‘I didn’t think that anybody would put any money in but it’s more than doubled what I thought it would.

‘It’s done well, just keep an eye out for the next one!’

Tattooist Bob Hansler, who owns Havant Ink, said: ‘It’s certainly one of the more unusual requests we have had.’

To make a donation go to justgiving.com/James-Sullivan2016.