Met Danny Higginbotham and Chris Marsden once, came in the pub we owned. Good guys. Also back when I was 10 I wanted to meet all the players, so before the friendly with Parma we went and stood outside the stadium, got my shirt signed by all the squad. It's still a prized possession <3
Oh also, I forgot, an odd one, went on a school trip a couple of years back up to the Peak District in Derbyshire. While there we went to a lovely little village called Castleton, and when walking past the pub we noticed sat at a table somebody who looked a lot like our just fired manager Nigel Pearson. Obviously this started discussion among the many Saints fans in the group, when one of the teachers said "Don't worry, I'll go over for you." Walked over to him and said, "Sorry to bother you but I'm a teacher from Southampton and a lot of the boys in my group wondered if you're Nigel Pearson?" He laughed and came over to us all for a chat, said he really wanted to stay with us but the owners wanted to go a different way, but he was delighted he managed to keep us up and wished us all the best for the future. Obviously it was the highlight of the trip for the Saints fans, going to a tiny little village (population 649!) hours and hours from home and happening to see our ex-manager there!
you can just go to training ground, i think . Used to be on a thursday. You can meet the whole squad if you wait behind for a bit.
Saw guly do prado get some money out of a cash machine in the coop near my house, surreal I will tell you!
Saw Dan Harding swimming in Romsey Rapids with his daughter once, he looked fed up as he was being forced to keep going on the flume time and time again
Showing my age - received an award from Ted Bates when I was a kid! Ironically, our team was in the Pompey Lads League. Also showing my age - Played in the same Sunday team as Steve Moran (also played against him for my school) Met Egil Ostenstad in Sainsbury's, Hedge End.
Met Paul Jones in Waltham Chase when I used to live there. Was walking to Primary School and bumped into him outside the local shop, and was shocked to say the least. Got my bag signed by him and shook his hand. Looked massive to me at the time, I was about 10.
My family used to sponsor a player each year. First was Paul Jones for 3 years - met him loads of times, really nice bloke. Then there was Anders Svensson for a year - very nice bloke, but very young. Then the last player we sponsored was Claus. Great guy, met him loads of times and got on really well with him. My best memory was though at one of the players dinners, I ended up being sat next to my hero Matt Le Tissier for the evening, was totally star-stuck for the first hour! I also shook Markus' hand once! At the end of the Boxing day game against Exeter the season before last, a mate of mine got us hospitality, we ended up sitting a row behind and 10 seats across the aisle from Markus & Nicola. Being hospitality, i was a little drunk and at the end of the game ( a 3-1 victory in front of 31,000), I found myself following Markus up the stairs. I slurred "Markus, Markus!". To my shock he turned around and said "What?". I turned to face the pitch and said "For this!" (the crowd quite aptly were chanting "we love you Southampton, we do"). He smiled, shook my hand and said "you're welcome!" Lovely, lovely man. no7
I know Jason Puncheon, yes, boooo! Have contact details for him. Other than that, footballers I've met outside of football related places? The train, Yeovil striker Craig Calver, who interestingly told us that Terry Skiverton had told his team to kick Lallana and Chamberlain deliberately. Nice bloke though, lives this way was visiting family, formerly on loan down here at Southend.
I met Peter Shilton the summer before he joined Saints - Was on holiday in Devon, and Peter was renting a house across the road from where we were staying. He used to get really wrapped up with about 4 layers of clothes and then go jogging(I'm guessing he had to lose a few pounds lol). My brother chased after him one day and got his autograph, but Shilts dripped sweat onto it and the ink ran. My brother still treasured it though. Different world these days, as few top class players would spend their holidays in sunny Devon.
my mates uncle is good friends with Lambert (Allegedly) and according to him Rickie said he was forced out rovers.
met ostlund outside st marys and i know a lad in the academy u16s , going to be a fantastic player at CB, he often talks to me because of the saints connections and he is a top lad as well but thats about it :L
My good god i am actually really jealous of you right now, i'm sure many of our fans would loved to have met the big man and say our thanks (R.I.P)
Souness and Egil Ostenstad came to open Colden Common Park Clubhouse, some years ago, just after Egil had scored the hatrick vs Man U in the 6 - 3 win at the Dell, and I got to chat to them - brilliant, I was like a kid in a sweetshop. Also used to see Ted Bates at Colden Common a few times, as his grandson used to play for Colden Common. He was a very quiet man, kept himself to himself, but would talk if you spoke - a true gent!!
Perhaps someone can help me. Went to Cyprus 3 years ago, met a man in his sixties who said he'd been a footballer. I said, 'Who did you play for?' He answered, 'Everton and Southampton.' Checked the name when I came back and it was true. Have now forgotten it. He transferred to us from Everton for a year or two. Anyone know?
