WHEN Reg Johnson had to give up a treasured ticket for Oxford United’s 1986 Wembley win, his son Mark promised he’d make sure he was there for the next time.

Well, it may be 24 years later, but on Sunday Mark will be able to finally make good on that pledge to his 73-year-old dad.

Mark had bought tickets for himself and his father for that famous April 1986 day when United thumped Queen’s Park Rangers in the Milk Cup final, right.

But Reg couldn’t get the day off from his job on a farm.

Last night, 50-year-old Mark, who lives at Headington Cemetery and works as the cemetery supervisor, told how he had secured tickets for United’s crucial Blue Square Premier play-off final against York City.

The grave digger, who is father to Sam, 18, Ethan, 15, five-year-old twins Charlie and Sophie, and Elizabeth, six months, said: “It’s a very, very nice feeling to be able to take him. I got all emotional when I told him.

“He couldn’t go before, I think it was something to do with work.

“He was working on a farm and couldn’t get the time off.

“He was devastated.”

Back in 1986 Mark sold the spare ticket, which cost about £5, to friend Ian Abbey.

Recalling the victory, he said: “It was superb, probably one of the best days of my life, the births of my children just edging it.”

He watched the U’s triumph over Rushden – opting to head to the Kassam Stadium instead of hospital after spraining his ankle that morning.

He said: “I knew if I went to the hospital I wouldn’t get to the match so I limped my way to the stadium and went to the hospital later.

“To be honest, my first thought when they won was that Dad was going to get to go to Wembley.

“It’s been a standing joke that he hadn’t been able to go and I felt I had let him down although it was something out of my control.

“He’s in his 70s so I doubt he will get to go again. He’s chuffed to bits.”

Reg, who will be 74 on Saturday before his first trip to Wembley, said: “I’m over the moon. I was absolutely gutted last time.

“I think it will be 2-0 to Oxford. W’ve got to get back in the league.”

Mark added: “I think we will win 3-0.”