.....six years ago, and our beautiful club had folded.... Who would you have supported (other than the obvious "whatever non league club had risen from the ashes"). I think I'd have gone Eastleigh with a dash of Brighton (as I live here). The question slightly makes me feel sick though.
Definitely would have loved football a lot less though. Which gets me to thinking - do you love the club more than the game? (That's part two of the question).
Probably Southend United, I guess. I've always had a soft spot for them and looked for their results, because it's where I'm from and who a fair share of my mates go and watch - but, now I'm working for them it's definitely ramped my interest up a couple of notches. Sometimes I think lower league match-days are much more fun. Just the 'vibe' and honest feel about it, if that makes any sense to you guys.
I don't think I would have supported another team, as for me its always been saints before the game, to the extent that I would probably have only bothered watching big games when they were on the tv like all the other casual fans if Saints had gone under. Live football would become pointless for me. The sense of belonging and comradeship that you get as part of the club fanbase couldn't really be recreated in another club post Saints - and you'd always be looking back on what was, and always would be better than the new club. Its like the girlfriend that you should have stayed with from years ago, who in your memory, will always be better looking, or cleverer or sexier than your current girlfriend ever can be.
I think I would have been too devastated to watch football for a while and certainly couldn't support another club. After a while, I think I would have watched games of particular interest...internationals and the odd FA Cup and European match. I'd have stopped reading papers for a while....after all they might have mentioned Saints and I couldn't have borne that. Thank heavens we didn't have to find out...an unimaginable void.
I thought about that at the time.my son said we should follow Northampton (!!!) and I said that I would take him to games but I couldn't support them. Yes, if have lost some love for the game. I think I'd have become an England club member and started watching their games live at grounds.
Reading for me. Being from fleet they would be the nearest team. Or i would have gone lower league and become an aldershot fan. Wow, both those options are horrendous
No-one, in the same way at least. I've always had a soft spot for Bournemouth so I'd have wanted them to do well. I probably wouldn't have noticed Eastleigh 6 years ago but now, yes, its probably where I'd go.
B'MOUTH. Lived there for 6 years and had a very pleasant time. But my internet would drop significantly. Ugh its a horrible thought!
Probably whatever local club stepped in to fill the breach. FC Saints of Southampton, or something...
I'd probably have taken a little more of an interest in the clubs I'm already interested in to the extent that I look for their results - Arsenal and Bournemouth - and any phoenix club but that might have been the end of any real interest in football. I used to watch Champions League games and other football if it was on TV but I don't any more (partly a time thing, partly because the wife hates football) and I'm not really a fan of "the game", especially at the top level, because I like to relate to players when I watch any sport and most of the Premier League players live in a completely different world. There's a part of me that hopes the finances of the game will implode at some point but that seems increasingly unlikely.
I don't think I could support any other club(bar the obvious phoenix), I'd follow a couple like Swindon (family) Eastleigh and maybe a few others, but support? Wouldn't be able to do it, agree with FLT that I would probably try and attend more England games. Good thread LTL
No other club for me, I guess a club that rose from the ashes would be the one club to get my affection. I would probably transfer my attention to ladies beach volleyball?
Unless (gulp) he knows something we don't know....where's the headless chicken smilie when you need one.
If there was no Saints, I would have very little interest in football. I may watch the odd game on TV but i wouldn't waste any of my money on overpaid, big headed, small minded mecenaries that make up most of the professional football world. To be honest i can't even explain to myself why i love saints so much.
It's really interesting actually to see that in reality it's Southampton Football Club that we love, not football per se. I'm surprised only because really I'd never thought about that before I guess. I'm not surprised people couldn't support another club, but the sudden killing of real interest in the sport is interesting. I feel the same way! My god, we'd all have had SO much more free time too!
I think this sums up my feelings perfectly. How can you replace something you've grown up with and loved your whole life? Something the older members of your family have raved on about as you became a conscious being, and instilled their love for in your infant heart? Something your father took you to watch and got you hooked on, to the exclusion of all other clubs? Yes, I would have watched the odd European game or international, but football would have ceased to have the same meaning. I would have had to get my thrills from rugby and cricket I suppose.
