A MORTON mad father and son will jet home early from their family holiday in Spain to catch the team’s historic League Cup semi final match on Saturday.

Ali and Martin Witherow, who live in Gourock, were gutted when they found out the week-long break near Salou clashed with the club’s Hampden day out against Aberdeen.

Clydeview Academy pupil Martin, 13, couldn’t believe he would miss out on the Cappielow side’s first appearance in the semis of a national cup competition in 35 years.

He even offered to give up tickets for Barcelona’s Champions League clash with Manchester City at the Nou Camp tomorrow night in order to see his beloved Morton in action.

But instead Martin and school teacher dad Ali, 57, will leave mum Anne, 48, and sister Jennifer, 14, to make a 12-hour trip back to Inverclyde in time for Saturday’s showdown.

The pair will travel by bus to Barcelona to catch a flight to Manchester Airport before getting the train to Glasgow.

Martin, who has his own Morton YouTube blog — Ton TV — said: “It’s really good that I can go to the game.

“I didn’t think it was going to happen.

“I’m just counting down the days until the match.”

When asked which is the bigger match — Morton’s or Barcelona’s, the teenager said: “Definitely the Morton game.”

Dad Ali, a teacher at St Columba’s High, is also thrilled that he will make it to Hampden to cheer on the side.

He said: “It’s going to be a busy two days — and an expensive couple of days as well.

“But you only live once.

“This has not happened in such a long time, we couldn’t miss it.

“It’s one of those games where people keep asking if we can win and I think we can and will win.

“There’s been bigger shocks in football.”

Mum Anne, who picked up their tickets for the match before they jetted out, is also a huge Ton supporter and will miss the match but she is delighted her son and husband will be there to cheer the team on.

She said: “It was just unfortunate as I booked the holiday in July.

“Martin said he would pay for flights himself and then said his gran left him money when she passed away and he would use that.

“But we finally found a flight from Barcelona to Manchester on Friday, then they’ll get the train to Glasgow.

“It will be about a 12-hour journey.

“I’m really chuffed for him and he’s really pleased.

“I’ve been a Morton supporter for over 20 years so I do understand.”