Hi i have been a regular reader of the bbc 606 forums but thought with the move over to not 606 i would begin to post. I thought for my first article i would ask everyone what made you fall in love with saints. For me i moved to southampton at the age of 8 as a man utd fan (because of my dads family) and began to take an interset in how saints were doing this was in the our last couple of seasons in the prem. I then started attending games when we were in the championship with my football team and the passion, the atmosphere and enjoyment of actually going to a match rather than watching on the tv persuaded me to attend more frequently. Now if you ask anyone what team i support i have no hesitation in saying saints and was cheering us on with pride when we outplayed united for most of the game. I have told you why i love saints now you tell me why you do
Mine was as recent as just two years ago. I went to St. Mary's with my Dad and to be honest, only pretended to want to go so he could have an excuse to go and see SMS. (He used to live in the flats at the Milton Road End, but ended up moving away to London). I was impressed by it, and we returned for a game later on, as I was gaining more interest. So we went to that and I thought it was great, next game we went into the Northam and we don't go anywhere else, (except in the Kingsland for pre-season friendlies). Nowadays I want to get down to Southampton as much as possible, and will be there for Southampton v Walsall and although my journey takes 4 hours it is always well worth it.
When I was a little boy, I asked my mother, what shall I be? Shall I be (Tottenham, my old man's team), or shall I be Saints, here's what she said to me. Wash your mouth out son, go get your..errr...a gun, and shoot the Tottenham scum, and support the Saints. We hate Tottenham. Then the old dear moved us to Gosport to be next to "a beach that does not have flats behind it and a factory in front of it". I actually had little interest in football, being about 9 ( I was a late bloomer in support and playing). First day at school: surrounded by Pompey fans, who asked me my team (they probably noticed that I said "Hampshear", they said "Portsmuff") and in my naivety and innocence told them. I distinctly remember a valiant stand against the onslaught. After that I thought "F them" and actually began to really love Saints, being a rebellious, hot headed and slightly strange and ginger child. A few years later, the old man took me to my first game (only as we were playing spurs in the cup). Walking up from the concourse, I found the beam of the floodilights and the noise magical. Also I had enever seen more than ten Saints fans in one place before, suddenly I saw 30,000. Red and white also made a refreshing change from the blue that covered Gosport. We won 4.0, I still worship Ander svnesson and co., and I was hooked. Kind of a life story, but then again I measure key moment sin my life by how Saints were doing.
Don't think I ever "fell in love". That sounds a bit airy fairy for my liking. As a 3rd generation Saints fan, I was always going to support the club, it was just a matter of when my old man thought I was big enough to handle standing on the Archers Road. The first games I went to exceeded my expectations as to the atmosphere, the game itself and the general feeling of belonging. 35 years later and my feelings havn't changed for the club (although they took a battering a couple of years ago and I all but stopped going). But not sure "love" is the right word, it's just part of my life and something I do because I enjoy it.
Well I've been supporting the saints since i was 8!I don't know why maybe it was fate!Funny thing,my dad is a skate,yes my dad is a pompey fan so he never approved of this idea,he always have great banter between us!I never connected with pompey so i never became a pompey fan(oh well ).As the years went by i wasn't a massive fan of Southampton FC,until I went to St.Mary's on boxing day 09'(vs Exeter) then I witnessed the passion,the atmosphere,everything i wasn't used to,I wasn't used to this atmosphere in first hand, as i'm living in Portugal and the atmosphere is nowhere near as good as english games only when its Porto vs Benfica for example but still not as good.Anyway from that moment i just fell in love with club and this season i made another visit to St.Mary's to watch us play Yeovil!Great times,great club!I love Southampton FC
Unlike chocolate box kid,i did fall in love and to be honest the only thing i love more than the saints is my girlfriend and family,i can't get enough of saints,if they could play everyday i'd love it although i don't think i could afford it! Remember when i first started liking football i was 'supporting' all the teams that were doing well at the time,norwich,chelsea and liverpool from what i remember but then my uncle took me to wembley to watch the zenith data cup final against nottingham forest when i was around 10 and ever since then i have loved the saints and couldn't stand it if i didn't have footy in my life thats why i'm so grateful to liebherr for saving us and giving us back a club to be proud of,if we get promoted it'll be such a shame that he won't be around to join in our celebrations.
For the past 2/3 Years I went to SMS with a few of my mates over the years and that was it ...I was hooked, and found myself watching for Saints scores , Saints News and updates... Then I plunged in feet first and got my first Season Ticket (2010/2011) - and its been brilliant! ...never experienced such great atmosphere and whole load of passionate fans ever. I born in Walsall , then later moved to Southampton and been here over 7 Years so yep you can call me a Saddlers / Saints Fan (Gives me a idea for a new username!) After experiencing the atmosphere, fans passion at SMS over the years and especially this season ...I have to to admit it ...You all beat alot of Midlands Clubs!!! Blame Woodie13, Tuckshop and Nashy for introducing me / converting me to Southampton F.C! Great team , with bags of potential for the coming years! And I can firmly say I can see them get back in Premier League ....even tho home team will still be battling in League One!
bpl234.. Good observation Yep I still remain loyal to where I was brought up: My Home Team: WALSALL .... And support my local Team: Southampton!
CBK i appreciate that you were always going to support saints, however as a someone who didnt grow up in southampton for the first 8 yrs of my life i did 'fall in love'. Another interesting point is that the seasons in the championship where you almost stopped attending is when i started attending more, this is probably because i thought that the club needed our support more then ever then. Thank you to all who have commented it is interseting to see how we all have different reasons for supporting saints.
Born in Winchester and after 8 years of travelling, settled there. Myfather was spurs and influenced my older brother. I wanted to be different. Went to my first game at The Dell in about 1972, Milton Road end of the West stand and stood there for every home game for years. Moved away and now get to 4-8 games a year. Will move back to Southampton in the next 2 years and will get a season ticket. I've been through thick and thin. FA Cup final in '76 (still got my programme and the Pink'un frm 1st May, known locally as All Saints Day) to relegation. Had more wives than football teams I'm loving winning, even in a lower division, but hope for and expect promotion. My team for life. COYS
I don't really remember a time when I didn't support By Far the Greatest Team the World Has Ever Seen, born and bred round here. Parents weren't massive football fans but took me to The Dell every so often. My first game was Sunderland at home, a 3-2 win full of action! Support went a bit quiet for a while, but then I met a few mates who were fans too so started to go a lot more regularly at SMS, and got my first and only season ticket in 07/08. Now I'm a student in Bristol, I don't get to see them much, very excited to be going to Bristol Rovers and Walsall though!
Supported Man Utd as a kid, just because they had an amazing team in the 90s, but always had a thing for Southampton as my Dad grew up there and has always been a fan. When I realised that I was being a glory hunter and there was no real reason to support United, I became a full-time Saint.
I was a young lad of around five at Fratton Park. Crowded in and a lot of swearing which I wasn't used to. It nearly put me off. The next week I went down the Dell which was not as crowded and stood behind the goal so there wasn't so much swearing. However for what ever reason I enjoyed myself and became a Saints fan. Despite my grand fathers efforts to persuade me other wise. My father was not impressed either as he supported Dundee U and wanted me to support a team that at best we would see 5 matches a year. Although I still have a soft spot for the teams my family supported, my heart went with the Saints, which for my sins is now around 62 years. So I guess you could call me a hardened Saints fan.
Bournemouth born and bred but was relased from there when i was younger and was bitter against the club.....
Released? From your Mental Home bpl Oh. bpl. You best start winning. I want Boscombe in the Champ next season.
