...so how did you become a Saints fan. This is a question that follows on from the birthplace thread. It is aimed at those who were born elsewhere and maybe live elsewhere too. Those who were born in Southampton can also offer their reasons for being Saints fans. For example, if I followed my own family's history I wouldn't even be a football supporter. But I was the only one who played football for his school and got selected for a trial with Saints. So that kind of sealed my allegiance, although I started going to The Dell well before then, despite my Dad thinking I was wasting my pocket money. What's your story..?
Mine is fairly boring, really. Used to get taken to watch Southend but never considered myself a Southend 'fan'. Was taken by parents to various London clubs and open training events etc. Then my Dad took me to Saints one time. He hadn't been able to go for years due to work, but then he could. Said he couldn't justify going on his own to my Mum, so I said I'd go with him. I got hooked and I didn't expect to.
Was born in Rome as I wanted to **** up my parents holiday and be a month early. But my parents have always lived in Southampton.
Dad was born in Southampton and has been a saint for a loooong time - this year is the 60th anniversary of him going to his first game - so I was just following his lead.
After coming back from the States with my Mum we came to live in Winchester. Didn't have a Dad around for trips to the footy but one guy in particular who lived in the same close as us, and a few friends at school supported Saints so that was it for me. I'm pleased that I didn't follow some of the others and support the bigger teams, or, god forbid, Pompey! It means that I also have a great nostalgic connection too with Saints (we probably all do I guess ) and Winchester. Those were amongst the fondest years of my life, and seeing as I no longer live in Winch, whenever I go back either there or Southampton I also get that warm nostalgic feeling in my guttiwuts, I love it.
Dad was born in Hythe, his Dad used to take him to Southampton games as and when he could. I'm from Basingstoke, but my Dad took me to a Southampton game 9 years ago or so when I was 13, been hooked since then really!
All my friends were man utd or Liverpool fans when I was 11ish and I wanted to be different, so I started watching MOTD looking for a team to follow and that's when I saw Le Tissier for the first time. As a player with little skill myself, I was amazed to see what Matty could do with the ball and with seemingly such little effort too. I started following saints then and over twenty years later, here I am. I may be a Cardiff lad born and bred, but I'm a saint through and through
Most of my family were always Saints fans and I grew up in Andover, so it was a fairly easy trip by car or coach to the Dell.
Born in Southampton, and although I have lived in Fareham for most of my life, a place with more Pompey fans than Saints, it is nearby and I could get to games.
When I got into football, I mostly watched Seria A, it was very popular in Croatia in the nineties. At a point in my life my attention shifted form Seria A to English football. It was more appealing to me, seeing as I'm a bit of an anglophile. I was than looking for a club to support. I didn't wanted to support a fasionable side like United or Arsenal (It was back at a turn of millenium). I was looking for a side that doesn't have a lot of success, but not miles apart form achieving it. In my opinion, success that is hard to come by is far more enjoyable than instant an expected one, like those you have in supporting 'big' teams. I was looking for a team that had great fan base and a great history. Those are easy to find in England. In fact, one of the main reasons why I like english football is the richness of your footballing history and the way football is ingrained in life of so many people. But ultimately, I chose Southampton because of Le God. I adored him as a player and I respected him enormously for staying at Southampton his whole career. I though, if this magnificent player decides to spend his career playing here, there must be something magnificent about this club. At first, it was 'my team ' in England, one of the number of teams I followed more closely. But eventualy I formed a bond with the club and now I consider myself exclusively a Saints fan.
I'm not 100% sure because I've supported Southampton for as long as I can remember and as long as I've watched football but it was more than likely because of Le Tiss...My mom got fed up every year of our relegation struggles so kept buying me other more well supported clubs in Ireland's gear but I kept the faith! Used to get jerseys sent over but one of the happiest moments of my childhood was finally seeing a Saints jersey for sale in Ireland!That was 1998 and I still haven't seen one since!
http://www.oldfootballshirts.com/en/teams/s/southampton/old-southampton-football-shirt-s14979.html This bad boy!got Pahars 17 on the back
