Good morning fellow Saints Please indulge me and allow me an anecdote. A few years back I fell over (literally) a fellow Saints fan as we were both running to get the Chester train from Crewe after a particularly miserable 6-1 hammering at Old Trafford. We traveled together and subsequently became great friends. After my mate retired he moved back to Southampton, but hated it and came to live in Liverpool, a City he loves. Our friendship has developed. Our wives enjoy each others company and have even been mad enough to come to Saints games with us. In fact Saints have never lost when they have come with us, so you'll be glad to know they are both coming to SMS for Newcastle's visit. Since I retired, we have been able to spend a lot of time discussing politics, books, music and, of course, Saints. A while ago I was surprised to find that my mate was a forum poster. This was in 606 days when he used the name WindmillArms as a nod towards our shared Saints deity. I just didn't get it, but the development of this forum increased my interest and I was persuaded to join in. It has remained something I only do when with my mate as a part of our own Saints discussions, and I am writing this in his Liverpool home as our wives are out in Liverpool One and my mate is out buying lunch. This weekend they announced their imminent departure to live in France, a country all 4 of us love and we have been to their place over there a few times - even still following this forum from out there. Newcastle is to be the last home game, while the Liverpool away game will be my mate's final au revoir before disappearing over the channel. Today he has decided to stop posting as he will soon be an "armchair" fan, and he is strongly of a belief that attending matches regularly is a pre-requisite for forum credibility. As he is one of the most principled people I know, I am aware that now he has made the decision that will be that! His wife tells the tale of how, in the 1970's, she was coming out of the sea in Goa to spot her husband writing huge letters in the sand. She thought this was so romantic until she noted that his message read "CHANNON WALKS ON WATER". When not606 started he chose the past tense of this message as his handle. Finally, then, huge thanks to fellow Saints and Pompey fans who have made this forum such a great place to visit. I'm sure we'll individually and together keep an eye on here for news, but no more posting. For me this was a shared activity, and I don't want to be a sad old fart on my own! So it's goodbye from Channon Walked on H2O and goodbye from me UTS
That's a real pity. I enjoyed yours and his contributions, it'll be a shame to lose them. Nice story though, and I wish him the best of luck in France.
Going cold turkey? Very hard to do...hope you weaken. Good luck to both of you...I.m sure you will miss each other.
Don't agree that you have to attend matches to join in though. I think both should keep an eye on what's going on and comment when they want. Not everyone goes to every match.
good read, hope you come back and post though, if this season has proved anything so far it's you need to have flexible principles. No point playing beautiful football and following the southampton way if you are getting beaten every match.
I should add that I think a forum is much more useful if you aren't in the country like I am as it is a good way to get a variety of in depth opinions on the game. It is also handy for gossip and team news but you can find that on twitter.
It will be a sad day when all Saints fans are not welcome on this board......There is a lot of Saints fans all over the world....two of my sons included, who cannot attend matches because they live abroad. That should not and does not stop them posting nor should it stop other people. People only object to what they call "plastic" fans when comments are made as if regularly attending games. It will be a sad loss to lose two open minded posters as yourselves......and I would ask that you reconsider your decision......
Very kind words, Beddy, as we might expect from you. Sorry, didn't want to suggest anything. It is simply a matter of personal principle. Neither of us has ever had a problem with fans who cannot make games. It is simply that we always have tried to comment on Saints' performances from a position of having seen the games. What others do is up to them and we genuinely respect that. This is a great board, and that is largely down to the excellent contributions from people from around the UK and the World.
Ditto If we all had attending games as a condition of posting, I for one wouldn't be here ("bugger off then" I hear you cry ) If you have a genuine interest, I don't believe non-attendance at matches should make you feel you shouldn't be able to contribute to discussions.
Channon - where in France are you off to? I am about to start work for a company over there... if ever you fancy a glass of wine. Lambo - he asked about Liverpool tickets and I offered to help. He said he is sorted now, but had a friend in Chester who may need a ticket.. is that you? If so, send me a PM and I'll sort something if I can. I'll miss Channon and Lambo, both good contributors to this forum.
Just as an aside, I remember that 6-1 loss well. It was my Mum's first ever trip to Old Trafford (she was a United fan) and I took her up the Saints end. Bless her. Yesterday, rememberance day, was the second anniversary of the day we lost her. I never took her again!
You wouldn't have been old chum. There are plenty of us on here to keep you company. As an aside I always wanted to retire to France but when it came to it I couldn't bare to be parted from my granddaughters.
FLT just a small thing but my step-dad said to me once, " I enjoy your visits because it means part of your mum is back in the flat. Every time we visit him we have a bit of reminiscing which keeps her in our hearts.
