Fans share letters they received from England manager Gareth Southgate on Twitter

Fans have been sharing letters sent to them by England manager Gareth Southgate on social media as the nation's World Cup feelgood factor soars ahead of Saturday's quarter-final with Sweden.

The Three Lions have not had a better opportunity to reach a World Cup final in decades and optimism is growing that Southgate can take the team all the way out in Russia.

The Twitter hashtag #GarethSouthgateWould was trending on Friday as England fans came up with humorous acts of kindness they believe the gentleman manager would perform.

Among the dozens of posts were fans sharing pictures of letters Southgate had sent them during his playing and club management days.

Tom Duggan wrote a consoling letter to Southgate following his infamous penalty miss against Germany in the semi-finals of the 1996 European Championship.

Southgate, then an Aston Villa player, responded with a letter and a signed photograph.

The defender wrote: 'Thank you for your letter following the European Championship. My apologies for not replying sooner, but as you can imagine, things have been quite hectic!

'I just wanted to thank you for your kind words which were a great help to me during a difficult time. Your support is greatly appreciated.'

Duggan wrote on Twitter: '#GarethSouthgateWould' write back to the 14yr old me after Euro96, and then when I am introduced to him 21 years later at a conference, thanks me for my support again!'

Another Twitter user, Lisa Prendergast, revealed she wrote to Southgate as a 12 year old following his penalty miss and received a signed picture and a charming handwritten response.

Southgate wrote: 'Thank you very much for your recent letter, and your kind comments. I am enclosing a signed photograph which I hope you will have some use for. Your support is greatly appreciated.'

Prendergast posted on Twitter: '#GarethSouthgateWorld write to the 12 year old girl in 1996 who had a major crush on him and told him THAT penalty wasn't his fault. I love that letter.'

Simon Blower posted a handwritten letter from Southgate, then manager of Middlesbrough, that he received on the final day of his job as a teacher at Pannal School in Harrogate, where Southgate still lives.

Southgate wrote in the letter, on club-headed paper: 'One of your pupils has written to me to say you are leaving Pannal School and also that you are a loyal Middlesbrough supporter.

'I am writing this prior to the game with Newcastle which will have probably impacted on your class in the past few days - let's hope it was in a positive way.

'Good luck for the future and clearly you have made a big impression on Ellie and the rest of the class.'

Blower wrote: '[Southgate] has always been a hero of mine. Glad the rest of England now beginning to appreciate what a great guy he is.

'Received this on my last day at work, written ahead of the most important matches of his season. #classact #borolegend #itscoming home.'

Some of the other #GarethSouthgateWould tweets gained thousands of retweets and likes on the social media site.

One said: '#GarethSouthgateWould pipette feed an injured baby bird, day and night, until it was strong enough to fly back into the wild. Then leave seeds out in winter and gaze through the window smiling, sipping on hot chocolate, as the same bird returns to collect food for its family.'

Another read: '#GarethSouthgateWould probably politely ask football if it wanted to come home first, then contact its parents and ask if it was okay.'

A post by user IronLion read: '#GarethSouthgateWould know what day to put the bins out after a Bank Holiday. And let all his neighbours know just in case.'

Another tweet said: '#GarethSouthgateWould send a group email saying he didn't mind who ate his yoghurt in the fridge and accept he probably didn't write his name clearly enough on it. He would then enquire how many yoghurts he should bring in for everyone tomorrow.'

Another user tweeted: '#GarethSouthgateWould proof read your CV and get back to you with constructive feedback within an hour.'

One post said: '#GarethSouthgateWould run out and get your washing off the line if it started raining and you hadn't noticed.'

With Sweden to come in the quarter-finals in Samara on Saturday afternoon and a semi-final against either Russia or Croatia if they win, momentum is growing behind England.

They would face one of France, Uruguay, Brazil or Belgium in the final in Moscow on July 15 if they make it that far.