On OS, Saints are to form a partnership with the Spitfires in youth development and will play u21 games at Eastleigh's ground.
Eastleigh's academy will gain from association with Saints and more local lads will get good training and increase their chances of not being overlooked. Using their ground for u21s helps us and will give them extra income. As SaintJabie says...win-win.
Are they going to be open to the public then? They weren't before, except for the ones required to be played at St Mary's, and I might be wrong but I don't think this will change that requirement.
Does say on OS that it will be more accesible and will give fans a chance to see youngsters coming through.
It does say it's a more accessible location, it says nothing about giving fans the chance to see the games, and without an indication that they are changing policy on this I would have to presume there is no change in policy, and that these games will be played behind closed doors as well.
They are able to see them already, in the two (I think) matches which must be played at St Mary's and be open to the public, according to the rules of the U21 league. All the others are allowed to be played behind closed doors, and all of them so far have been I believe. I now notice the quote from Martin Hunter, "Our best are being tested against the best young players of other Premier League clubs in an environment where fans can support the team as they do at St Mary’s." Yes, it's an environment where fans can attend, but will they be allowed to?
Even assuming all the games are now open (which I doubt) the handful of fans these games will attract is unlikely to be enough to cover the costs of opening the stadium! I'm sure Eastleigh are much more interested in the fee we are undoubtedly paying them for the privilege of using their ground.
One is the Man Utd game next Monday, don't know if the other has happened. I have a feeling Spurs might have been scheduled for it but it was moved for some reason?
I hope so, I used to go and see reserves and U18 and U16 games and I've missed doing that the past couple of years
That's as clear as can be that the games will be open to the public...some of you want it written in blood on personally engraved invitations.
Well it would be nice It just doesn't add up. If they're selling tickets for all these matches you'd expect that fact to be made explicit. Why would they open all matches to the public and then hide that in an ambiguous quote from a coach towards the end of the article? Surely they'd want to sell as many tickets as possible?
Thought this already existed? How we got Martin the gem. Side note my friend plays for Eastleigh and he says that they reckon he'll make it to saints as a centre mid and they rate him higher than Martin. (He is however extremely cocky) Hope he makes it purely because I nut megged him once...
