Names on Saints' shirts

With my birthday fast approaching the very lovely Mrs Godders has been asking or suggesting what I might like as a gift. Yesterday morning she asked if I would like a Saints' shirts to which I said definitely not "But you could have your favourite player's name on the back." she said to which I replied that I no longer allowed myself to get attached to players and if I did have a shirt with a player's name on the back then said player would probably be sold in January. "Well you could have your name on the back. A shirt with St Godders on the back would look very smart." was her next suggestion to which I replied that if I walked around with a shirt on that had St Godders on the back people would throw house bricks at me.

Then walking to yesterday's match I started looking at people with Saints shirts on and the thing that struck me was that probably about 95% did not have a name of a player or anything else on the back. This got me to thinking that when Manchester United sign a player it boosts shirt sales but it doesn't work that way with our fans. The press that puts the names on shirts in the Saints megastore must be the most underused in the Premier League. Is this because fans no longer attach themselves to players as they once did, is it because having a name on the back is too expensive, is it because we all know that players don't stay long or is it because we have all become fed up with the blatant commercialism of football?

 

I confess to sporting a Saints shirt. Choice is limited by the fact that I don't like wearing stripes, but there you go. In addition to it being part of my match day uniform, I do I like to show my allegiance when I go to the gym etc and the badge does really piss off a lot of scousers so it's a win-win!

I have never been tempted to put a name on it. Partly for the reasons you cite, but mostly because I support Southampton not any individual. There have been individual players I have greatly admired over the years - 'ard as you likeTerry Paine; the great Mick Channon; that flash 'arry Le Tiss; the imperious Frenchman Morgan and the lovable scouser Rickie are 5 that spring to mind - but ultimately once they were no longer playing for the club they ceased to exist apart from warm memories.

My casual observation of United, Liverpool and Everton fans where I live is that very few have names on shirts. However, when travelling - particularly in Asia - I see a lot of name shirts (probably cheap copies) so maybe we need to await our elevation to being big in Thailand and China before we see the impact of our signings on shirt sales. Can't wait!

 

Fair comments godders and I think you are right, a combination of cost and attachment to players.

I do buy a shirt every few seasons but it's a SOUTHAMPTON shirt, I support saints as a team and don't feel the need to single out a player to be named on it.

Interesting enough though saw Liverpool fans leaving their match yesterday with Stephens and Redmond on the back of their shirts. .

Anyway we are still non the wiser what you are going to get for your birthday.

If not a saints shirt, how about Southampton boxer shorts. You could get the name of a saints player embossed across the front. Long, maybe

 

You could get a Saints shirt and have the name of a philosopher or psychiatrist put on the back. Kant or Jung perhaps. We all need our heads examining putting up with the expensive game of EPL football.

 

I had to laugh at the last game....I saw the tiniest child you could imagine....a skinny 4 year old...with Gabbiadini in full across his non-existent shoulders. The letters nearly formed a circle. Obviously Gabbi wasn't good enough.

 

Fair point Godders, though interestingly the two names I did notice a lot of yesterday were Gabbiadini and Lemina. So I think there is something, be it less than we might be led to believe, to it.

 

I get a shirt every year - only way it to games, as someone said it is part of my match day uniform.

I have never bothered with a name - mostly for the reasons stated above. If I was to get a name it probably would be Lambert or Channon or Benali or another saints legend.

Another reason could be that is is only in the Premier league era that names really were put on shirts. The last time we had this kit, there were numbers only (and numbers 1-11). Still remember Keegan as No7 in this shirt.

As an aside, for those old enough, Bertrand reminds me of an 80s player in this shirt..I just can't put my finger on it. Maybe Danny Wallace?

 

I have a name on some of my footy shirts, as it links it to the time for me. It helps me remember the team of the time.

I've got a Phillips, Surman, Gaston and.... Osvaldo shirt.

 

I'll buy a Saints shirt if I like the design..

The last two years I've bought the home shirt as I've liked them.

I'll put my hands up to putting the same on the back of every shirt I've bought;
'Saint' and the No.7.

We March On.

 

Never put a name on the back. Learned from a very young age that players don't stick around

BBC posted an article about Transfers which broke fans hearts

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40946700

No Saints exits mentioned, but which player leaving broke your heart?
As a 9 year old I was devastated when Rodney Wallace left.

 

Haven't bothered with replica shirts since the early 90s. I prefer the scarf but most of these are naff as well these days. Loved the traditional red, white scarf/blue and white scarf. (PS: Remember I am a supporter of both SFC and PFC and am proud to admit, that as both are from Hampshire, which was my county from the age of 6 until I moved here in 2013)

 

We Saints fans have had our hearts hardened over the years.

 

Don't you mean burdened?

 

The players I really did not want to see go were Channon when he went to City, Williams when he went to Arsenal, and Morgan when he went to United (but that was mainly so the very lovely Mrs Godders would not be upset). As for all of the rest who went I just shrugged my shoulders and got on with my life.

 

With me it was Martin Chivers!! As for the others, we got our worth out of them for many a year before they chose to move on.

 

The first cut is the deepest

 

I echo the Martin Chivers pain, but that was in the days before people wore replica shirts, so nobody was left with a relic that reminded them of happier times. I've only ever bought one Saints shirt, last season's to wear to Wembley. To avoid any chance of future misery I had it printed with "Le Tissier 7", which will never be out of date, even when we are all dead and gone. I would advise Godders to do the same, with one of his Saints heroes from former days, maybe Alf Ramsey or C.B.Fry?

 

I don't put a name on mine, however you've given me a great idea. I might get this season's shirt and put Keegan, Channon or Ball on the back.... I'd go with Williams out of choice but it is not a stand out football name to the uneducated.

 

When is your birthday Godders?

 

Every year since 1465