I went to see Bolton v Arsenal when I was younger, trying to remember the year. Bolton won 1-0 and the atmosphere in the Reebok was quality. I was on football tour in Liverpool/Bolton from Belfast and we had an afternoon to ourselves.
Saturday I went to see Northampton. Every couple of years my mate and I take the wives on a euro city break which will coincide with a big game (handy that). if I'm away with work in UK or Europe, I'll try and find a midweek game to go to. If saints play midweek I'll organise work around that. Even go and watch local junior sides.
Whilst there is nothing to beat watching Saints - live football is live football, its not boring and the whole day out is an experiance, meeting other fans, drinking beforehand even the travelling. From Ibrox to Swansea, Old Trafford to Ipswich the most scared i have ever been was a game between Villa and Birmingham. All the windows of the pub we were in got smashed in before the game, the atmosphere was intense and police everywhere. Inside the ground, st andrews it was just as intimidating. Still somehow enjoyed the day though.
Been to quite a few Gillingham games home and away, as step father supports the Gills, have cracking away support too
Went to see Yeovil play a handful of times when I used to stay down that way. It only cost about a fiver to get into the terraces behind the goal, and Yeovil were playing some decent stuff at the time and rocketing up the leagues - from mid table in the Conference to League One play-off final in four seasons. Saints' decline completely coincided with their rapid rise -so it felt kind of weird being in the same division as them when we were in League One
I have watched Bangor City a few times in past years, the most notable game was an away game at Porthmadog when The Citizens clinched the league of Wales Championship. Their manager at the time? One Nigel Adkins! I also go to watch the local team here with 'work' but the football is awful and i spend most of the time trying to keep up with Saints game on my mobile.
When I first migrated away from the South I used to watch Wrexham. Can't stand being a "neutral" though so became quite an ardent fan. I was living in Chester at the time, and locals tried to get me to go there, but they play in blue! In the last few years I have become friendly with a season ticket holder at Tranmere and go there if for any reason I can't get to a Saints game. Everyone around knows I am a Saint, and as you can imagine this is the cause of much p*** taking! Again not a neutral, but "supporting" another team does feel hollow. I only get the real pain and delight watching Saints. Even watching England lose on penalties doesn't hurt like seeing Saints lose to a late goal, or a bad decision. And nothing, but nothing can ever match the moment Bobby Stokes scored ... more please Mr Adkins!
I used to watch Fulham when they were in the bottom league, before Tigana and keegan and the like, as an old friend supported them. Once I went to buy some refreshments there, and on a pink star (the ones used to advertise deals/offers etc) was a note advertising that staff were needed, and Ian Branfoots contact name and number. Honest. This was post his mangement stint there. Obviously his abilities were needed elsewhere! Been to Arsenal a few times (champions league, but crap games in early rounds) as mother in law (well nearly) has a season ticket, and a spare one when hubby is on business. Went to Forest v Millwall last year, as Mate is Forest, and he went to Saints v Millwall with me year before. Millwall v Forest was the worst game I have ever seen. Pretty gracious of him as his wife to be is Millwall and at the other end! All in all however, although the matchday experience always has a buzz, there is obviously not that extra emotional attachment that makes watching Saints more enjoyable or more painful.
Been to a few other games but this I will remember for a very long time and nit for the football: In the mid eighties up in London a mate and I went to watch Chelsea vs Spurs - when Cheksea still had a shed. Went in with the away support. Think it was 85 or 86, so the previous year or two we had been runners up. At half-time the scores were coming through, my mate repeated a bit too loudly we're 4 nil up (can't remember who "we" were playing, possibly Villa). Then came the inevitable tap on the shoulder...."who do you support?" "what you doin' 'ere?" Concerned, but with no axe to grind we told them. Saints fans now living in London, fans of footie, etc. "Bloody hell mate, four-nil". Our retort was the fact it was ONLY half- time and could still lose it. They snorted and with derision "yeah, whatever". At the end of the game, luckily a draw so the Spur(t)s were relatively happy, came a yank on my shirt "thought yo-use were joking". Saints had drawn 4-4. We then watched the Spurs suppirters stamp out of Stamford Bridge to their own chant if "We're they Yid Army..." The game itself was so-so, the atmosphere was terrific..although that could have been just the adrenaline! I also watched a Skates pre-season match in Finland (against HJK)...teaching the locals new vocabulary and some rather "quaint" songs...but that's another story
Good man, I'm from Basingstoke originally so I watch them (very) ocassionally. Although it's no St Mary's, the Camrose has a certain charm to it! With boyf following Reading, I've seen them many times, looking forward to 22nd Oct.....
OK -I`m out, I`m bi. Aberdeen and Saints. Glutton for punishment or what. Mind you I`m off to see Sunderland v Aston Villa at the end of the month. The 2 most memorable games I`ve attended - Saints v Fulham (Moore, Best, Marsh) - Aberdeen v Real Madrid ECWC. Once in a life time. COYR !!!
Always watched teams near where I have lived including:- Arsenal Northampton Town Bashley (New Forest near New Milton) Huddersfield What division they are in is not important. It isnt like watching Saints, although provided I have a local connection I find I can "support" them, well at least have empathy towards them anyway. Of course a Saints game will always take precedent but i have enjoyed having a second team.
That's almost exactly how I've felt about it when I've lived in different parts of the world, although my idea of following these second teams is probably more like like keeping tabs on them, rather than actually bothering to go and see them. Saints only, I suppose.
Have you actually recovered yet..... Have visited on a couple of occassions in the sixties.Went in the stand that caught fire.......see told you I get the blame for everything.......
It's nice to hear about everyone else's stories, even if like me it seems that it never quite meets the level of watching the mighty saints! I can only remember seeing one neutral game before, villa 2-2 fulham last season, not a bad game, it happened to fall in that weekend where the average game in the premier league had about 4/5 goals each! Hopefully this weekend will throw the same kind of result at me (although having said that it will probably be a terrible 0-0!)
Wicked, there's a lot more Saints fans from round Basingstoke than I originally thought, and I know loads going to the Reading game. A must win if the proceeding few weeks is to be bearable! Basingstoke play Hartley Wintney twice this week, in the Hampshire Senior Cup tonight and the FA Cup on Saturday.
Went to the Nou Camp when Bobby Robson was manager and a very young Ronaldo was playing. Not sure what the attendance was at Barcelona but probably more than the 3-4,000 at Inverness Caledonian Thistle when we visited this season. Both matches great fun for different reasons. All other games have involved Saints.
