There are times when we see families move into a new house only to find that they are living next to neighbours from hell. As a Saints fan who is apparently supposed to hate all things connected to our blue friends down the road you can imagine my horror when I found out that my new neighbours were Pompey fans. I know on here and on other sites similar we come across a few mouthy fans but in the main apart from some banter the vast majority seem to be normal people. All clubs have a few stroppy gits that wind up persistently and seem to do so just for their own personal pleasure. As a Saints fan of many a long decade I was unsure of how things would go when we had moved. I needn't have worried though as our next door neighbours have proven to be every bit as genuine as any neighbours that we have ever had. In fact I can say hand on heart that they are among the best that anybody could have. I have had health problems for a while and living in the country as we do a car is a must. Buses are few and far between, especially in the evenings so whilst I was in hospital it was never going to be easy for my wife to visit me. In stepped our neighbours and they started running my wife and family to Southampton so that they could see me. They have done many other jobs for her such as plumbing in a new washing machine and helping out with some maintenance. Even now that I am home they still pop round to make sure that all is ok and that we don't need anything. We still have the usual banter but I can quite happily count them as true friends. Is there any other person on here who can say that friendship can cross the divide as if it was two families fighting each other until actually learning that there was no sense in all of the hostility.
Your neighbours sound like the modern equivalent of the good samaritan. Hope your health is better now.
Thats lovely and I hope you feel better soon, thats what good people do though not just football supporters, I mean to say regardless of a pom*ey fan a good person would do that. pom*ey fans on their own are sound, in groups they are little Olivers and think they are the dogs bollocks, the older ones are ok in saying they ****ing hate us but they will say so and talk about something else, in short a good neighbour regardless of footballing persuassion should help you.
I am glad your neighbors are a good lot. I too have had some really remarkable friends who support Pompey for their sins. Some had been my friends since the 40's. Sadly our numbers have dwindled over the years having attended a funeral of one of them fairly recently. Leaving just the two of us from a group of around 10 in the beginning. My mate for Pompey me of course for the Saints. Friends as you describe SFC4bag are few and far between although we all would like to say we would do the same for others. The proof as they say is in your hour of need and like you say they were not found wanting. I guess at the end of the day we can forgive their misdemeanor of supporting the blue shirt. I truly hope you get better soon me old mate, A merry Christmas and a happy new year to you! Naturally those same wishes apply to your neighbors too!
No longer worrying about the End of the World! Just have to worry about the end of our neighbours down the road?
Thanks Beddytare. Sadly the colour of your shirt seems to matter more to some. My health is as good as it can be and now my medication has settled my ails down I am almost back to normal. I hope you also have a Merry Xmas and Happy New Year.
I have said it often that I have many very good friends who are Pompey fans and they are really nice guys. We have gone away together, had meals together and enjoyed many a tipple in a bar together and have always remained very good friends. I am not sure whether it is me but I seem to meet far fewer Pompey fans these days. Perhaps there are far fewer of them than before. Over the years I have worked with many and we have got on just fine although I will admit too knowing two of them who were really not very nice people at all. Rather sadly for both of our clubs the News and The Echo permit the most crass rubbish to be published on their websites that is deliberately provocative. I am not sure where all the cretins come from on Derby days either as some people's behaviour is quite appalling and out of character.
I know a few Pompey supporters who i would count as friends and i have one who has worked with me for years who is the best guy in the world - we have loads of banter but also lots of respect. My daughter got a new b/f a few months ago and to our horror i found out that he was one of the blue few from the iow. My son saw a picture of him on fb burning a Saints shirt and that really put us off him to start with ! However after meeting him i think that he is an OK lad - me and the kids ( even the daughter ) take the mickey out of him loads especially as he seldom seems to attend Fratton Park. Never lived next door to a Pompey supporter - but if they were decent folks then would have absolutley no problem with it. Derby days always brings out a few nutters, from both ends of the M27.
I met two guys on holiday last year and one was a Newcastle fan and the other a Sunderland fan they were on holiday together and they were the best of mates.
Football fans of any team have a lot in common. Do you realise that some people actually think that football is not the most important thing in the world. Strange but true.
My dad did the same thing but in reverse. In other words, hd started talking to who he thought were Saints fans, only for them to start abusing him! As for love thy neighbour, I would but I'm sick of the sight of the green and black striped away kit, It's very popular! Slightly jelous of the real stripes though.
Personally, I only know one Southampton fan in real life and he was more of acquaintance than a friend however seemed to get on okay and he was pretty cool. There was another dude at school but that was before I was a Portsmouth fan, we were briefly Facebook friends but he deleted all but one of his friends from that school (myself included) but he did use term skate, I think. So my main interaction with Southampton fans is through this forum but I must say I genuinely like almost everyone on this forum and would be happy to have any of you as neighbours.
If I was your neighbour I could help you complete your job application forms and give you some tips on interviewing. Don't laugh I was once the Personnel Director of a large company with almost 500 employees. I could introduce you to the very lovely Mrs Godders and she could give you excellent advice on how to woo the ladies (most of it learned from me by the way). I am not sure what you may be able to do for me as an excellent neighbour but I am sure you have some good ideas.
I am a ardent Pompey fan and have lived in Southampton for over 20 years. My next door neighbour but one is an ardent Saints fan and we are the best of friends. I am good friends with numerous Saints fans and would do whatever I could if any one of them was in trouble or having problems. The only people who say they hate 'Skates or Scummers' are complete and utter idiots and not real football fans. On that note: Merry Christmas and all the best for 2013
