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John Westwood was almost forced to wear a back-up wig ordered from eBay at St Mary’s Stadium this weekend for the south coast derby.
It was taken from him during the second half when Portsmouth FC played away at Romsey Town in the Hampshire Senior Cup on Tuesday night.
READ MORE: Fans urged to ‘check their journeys’ for Southampton Portsmouth derby
But the original wig will be worn as it was posted back to Mr Westwood’s Petersfield bookshop yesterday, with the superfan saying he was “just gobsmacked” to get it back.
Videos taken at the game had shown a Saints fan snatching the blue and white dreadlock wig from a table and putting it on his head, but John said that fans had been getting “loads of abuse online”.
The Portsmouth fan explained: “This poor chap had been getting loads of abuse, so I left him a message and said look if I get it back it’s fine, I don’t want anything to happen to him.”
John was concerned about the Southampton supporter’s family also getting abuse, and said it was “the last thing in the world” he wanted to happen.
He said: “It’s all just a bit of football. It was all a bit out of order, but nobody got hurt and it was a bit of banter that went over the top.
“I’ve got it back, it’s all done and dusted and forgotten as far as I’m concerned.”
READ MORE: Saints fans post Portsmouth superfan’s wig back to bookshop
The blue and white dreadlocks were listed for sale on Facebook Marketplace for £1 before being sent anonymously to his Petersfield bookshop via Royal Mail delivery, with the package being addressed to Mr P Fish.
Mr Westwood has vowed to wear the wig at St Mary’s Stadium on Sunday as Southampton play Portsmouth in league competition for the first time in 13 years.
Hampshire police had also gotten in touch with the superfan in regards to the incident, the Echo understands.
