Hi In case you didn't see the contribution from the United "fan" who posted how much he hated us because of the 1976 Cup Final, it was a classic. Hope you feel the response i have just posted is appropriate: First of all thanks to those Reds who have been so complimentary about Saints after last night. To the steward who chatted to me for much of the second half, cheers mate. And of course to Sir Alex, it might have been mind games but it felt good to hear his words of praise. But now to Nobby, bless. Yep, Nobby (great name; great player) we really feel for you. Poor old Bobby Stokes ruined your first Cup Final. Terrible. We all have games that still cause pain, so sit down, Nobby, and we'll share pain. Our nadir was 1984 v Everton, FA Cup Semi Final. We should have won it by a country mile, but lost 1-0 in the last minute of extra time. The final was a stroll in the park for Everton, as it would have been for us. This loss led to our board bottling it (again) and our manager (Saint Lawrie himself) left us. So let's compare what's happened to the two clubs since each of their dire moments: Start with Saints ... Well, 3 losing Cup Finals, several losing semi-finals; relegation from the Prem; Relegation from the Championship; administration ... relegation to League 1 with a ten point deduction. Man Utd Terrible record. In 1999 you failed to win the League Cup and could only manage a poxy three trophies to add to .. how many league titles, FA Cup wins (including doubles) another Champions League win and 2 finals. Yes, looking back I can see why you are so bitter. Pity that you couldn't take the view of your then manager, Tommy Doc, and be gracious in defeat and accept this was one of the few hiccups in an amazing history. Or put it another way, give us our moment in the sun, pal.
You failed to mention the last three seasons to stamp your point home. I'm too young for Lawrie Macs departure. What were the circumstances and do you think if he stayed he would have continued the success with le tissier & the other Wallace brother around the corner?
Lawrie Mac got frustrated with the board at Saints.....he didn't say so out right but it was clear to a lot of us at the time. The guy that owned the speed way in those days (Charlie knott if my memory serves) just across from the old Dell offered the board an opportunity they should have grasped with both hands. That was the land on which the speed way was taking place plus the car park and bit more as well. In return he wanted a stake holding in Saints and a chance to build a stadium that would hold a minimum 50000 on the land. Saints at the time were getting probably an average gate of around 23/24000. Lawrie mac was enthused as although the board turned the offer down they did say as soon as we had established ourselves in League one they would certainly look to build a bigger stadium of a similar size capacity. As we all know it did not happen...Lawrie got fed up waiting and left....... Even in the Lowe era........When the reverse take over was announced....Lowe promised that as soon as possible he would secure finance from investors to build a stadium that would hold up to 50000. Lowe kept that promise in a way but failed to get the investment that had been promised. So his original plans proved too ambitious and did not secure the stadium he originally promised although a 32000 all seater was better than nowt!
Interesting post, Beddy. I have to take a little jiggle with the timings though. 1] Charlie Knott sold the Speedway stadium to developers at the end of the 1963 Speedway season, with Saints as British Champions [ie, they'd won the Speedway Premier League with a star team], 2] Lawrie McMenemy didn't appear on the horizon until 1974..! Also, I believe you meant to say... as soon as we established ourselves in the old First Division [PL of today], rather than League One. Any stadium proposed back in the 1960's would have mainly consisted of standing areas, so 50,000 would probably have reduced to less than 40,000 with all-seating. Yes, there were many rumours of stadiums but it was generally fog to keep people's hopes up, in my opinion. In the early 1980s, it was made clear to Lawrie and the star team that he had gathered, for relatively next to nothing I might add, that the board's ambition for the club simply did not match his or his players. Indeed, there was a time during the Keegan era when Saints were leading the League and may actually have won it if they had strengthened the team to replace an injured key player [forget who]. Lawrie went to the board for funds [no transfer window] and they basically said no. Keegan left when he realised the League couldn't be won by a small club [as he put it], and Lawrie left to go to Sunderland a few seasons later when he also realised his dream couldn't be realised. The fact that he has remained loyal and never said a word against the Club's pathetic ambition speaks volumes of him. When Lawrie came to Saints, we really were a small provincial club that had punched above its weight. With his guidance, Saints really became a big club in a small ground, as he put it. In my opinion, it has only just started to come true again.
