Sunderland fan plans to travel to Wembley via MENORCA as it’s cheaper than a train

A SUNDERLAND football fan is travelling to Wembley via ­Menorca because it’s cheaper than ­getting a train or bus to London.

James Jelly has paid £12.50 to fly RyanAir to the Balearic island — and £10.50 from there to Stansted.

And he’s more excited for his overnight stay in an airport hostel than Saturday’s League One Play-Off final.

The purchasing manager, 33, said: “I can’t wait for it now I’ve booked it. I’m going to pack my shorts and make a little holiday out of it.

“I’ll have a couple of pints and a walk around Menorca.”

He added: “One lad I know paid £260 for a return to London on the train and British Airways wanted £161.99 for a direct flight.”

James will fly from Newcastle at 4pm on Thursday and land back in the UK at 6pm the next day.

A good Samaritan has offered him a lift from Stansted to London, where he will stay on Friday night with a relative.

His Stadium of Light heroes face Wycombe in the final thanks to a late Patrick Roberts goal in the semis.

And James has even sorted a free lift home after the match.

The canny dad of two won over his fiancee Victoria Stewart, 34, by showing her the savings of his journey ahead of their August wedding.

He said: “She thinks I’m crazy.”