How to meet first team players.

I was wondering if it is possible to visit Southampton training to get a chance to meet any of the first team players? E.g autographs or pictures with players etc

 

I think your best bet is to hang around outside Staplewood and catch them after training.

 

Nobody is allowed onto Staplewood premises at current, as it's still classified as a construction site. I imagine you could probably stand out the front by the main wood-panelled entrance gate, as several did on deadline day, and hope that a player stops as they pull out onto the lane. I don't see any reason why they'd ignore you, really. They typically have two sessions a day. Arrive around 8am-9am, some go home at 12pm-1pm (others stay to watch TV and have lunch on site) and then return for their afternoon session, leaving at around 4pm.

Alternatively, you could meet them as they arrive at St. Mary's Stadium on a match day, they typically arrive from 11am onwards. Some arrive a little earlier, some a little later.

 

I remember I met Lee Barnard and Steeeeeeeeve de Ridder a few years ago after the game. If you wait around after a match you will bump into a few I'm sure.

 

You could go to my dentist who is the official club dentist - yes, there is one!

I only ever met Steeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeve there, though.

Vin

 

Thanks for the suggestions! Hopefully I'll get a chance to meet them

 

You used to be able to meet Danny Fox and Steve De Ridder on the West Quay food level at around 1:30pm on a matchday - just after they'd been told they weren't in the squad for the day so they've headed to KFC!

 

Which entrance do the players use on match days?

 

They enter from the Chapel end. It used to be at the Chapel/Itchen corner but I believe they now park their cars at the far end on the Chapel/Kingsland corner and they then walk in through the concourse before it's opened to the public. The stewards normally put up a couple of railings either side of the entrance door the players will be using and our players are usually more than happy to stop and make sure everything gets signed.

 

How old are you Saintalona? You could always get training, work on this ball skills and get a contract... then you'd meet them everyday

 

I have a picture of me with Bruce Grobelaar somewhere in which I'm genuinely holding a brown envelope. It was the day before he got arrested.

True story.

 

They say it's good to give.