'I sold my late dad's diamond ring to get to Villa's Europa League final'

Lifelong Aston Villa supporter Scott Barnes never thought he would sell his late dad's diamond ring - but when the Villans reached their first European final since 1982 he had an emotional decision to make.

Barnes took the drastic step to sell the beloved ring after he had success in the ballot to buy a ticket on Tuesday, something he thought would "never ever ever" happen.

He said that it was only when his partner Claire reminded him about the ring that a plan was hatched, with Barnes saying he spent his last £20 on fuel to get to Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter.

The gold ring, set with nine diamonds was bought by his father John Barnes, in 1988.

"Everyone loved my dad, the whole family we loved him, he was so generous and used to pay for everything, we never went without," his son remembers.

"I still have my dad's wedding ring, and my mum's wedding ring that I will keep forever."

Selling the ring was not straightforward though, and Scott had to visit a number of jewellery shops to seal the deal.

But then one came up trumps, and he sold the ring, along with a watch, and was paid £550.

"When the jeweller gave me the money, I burst into tears in the shop," Barnes said.

He was very close to his father, but his emotions were heightened further because John had supported him through a gastric bypass in 2009 and the complications that followed, which included sepsis and septicaemia.

"I had to learn to walk again, I couldn't do anything, so there was a big gap from going to the Villa," Barnes remembers.

And now, despite being registered disabled, he tries to get to every game, whether it is home or away.

"The best day of my life was winning the European Cup", he says, which was a game he went to with his two uncles, in Rotterdam in 1982.

It was his uncles who introduced him to Villa as his dad had actually "never watched a game of football in his life".

After his ballot success, Barnes said he felt sick thinking there was no way he would make the crucial game 46 years later.

"Watching it anywhere else would not have been the same," he added.

Now though, the tickets to Istanbul via Krakow have been secured, and his excitement is building.

'Fans' stories motivate players'

Barnes also knows his dad would have supported his decision to sell the ring.

"He would say, 'Well done, go for it'," he said.

His story has really resonated with people, including former West Bromwich Albion captain, Kyle Bartley, who told WM's West Midlands Football Phone-In he had been taken aback.

"I would love it for the players to hear more about these stories and the lengths that some of the fans go to in order to be at the game," he said.

"I know from a personal experience, just how much hearing stories like this would mean to the lads.

"It might give them a bit more motivation when they go out on the pitch knowing what people have done to be there and support them."