For a couple of years I used to live in Burlington Road, spitting distance from the Dell (Milton road end). Never had to worry about parking or leaving early to beat the traffic. Happy days.
I also only made it to the Dell once. I wasn't into football as a youngster as none of my family were. A went with a friend from school and his Dad to a cup tie against Tranmere Rovers. It finished 0-0 though I think we had a few goals disallowed. Just looked it up and it was in 2001 and I was just about 11.
Nice one mate. Have long wondered about that Reckon that's definitely it too as I remember our goal coming not long after HT. 1997 though, time to have a moan at family for never taking me again...
Great memories of the dell. Used to go in the Archers Road end but occasionally east stand. One memory stands out more than most though - Mike Channon’s testimonial against QPR on the Monday after the FA Cup final win. The ground was literally overflowing that night, people were standing right up to the goal lines at one point. Great night!
Many memories of the Dell. Here are a couple. Must have been '81 and Keegan was playing for us. May I add I was 10/11 and Kevin Keegan was my biggest football hero, to see him in the flesh for MY club was mad (Yep more mad than playing out from the back). Anyway, I was to the left of the goal in the front, leaning on the wall/bar rail at the Milton road end and Keegan chased a through ball and it overran and he right next to me (he actually almost knocked me over) ended up in the crowd. I was the first to him and said "Kevin are you ok?" he looked a bit dazed and winked, "yes son, if you can help me up". Three of us helped him upon and he climbed back over the wall to go on to the pitch, mouthed thank you and winked again at me. OMG, at 10 years old your world footballing hero winks at you. A real moment. The second one is with Mick Channon. Must have been around 1984? or 1983? He was playing for Norwich. Again I was to the left of th goal at the front and Norwich had a corner. He was right in front of me and the old guy (lol probably only in his 30s, but old to me at the time) shouted "Mickey, Mickey", he looked over and then the guy said "You're a ****er!". Mick replied "What after all I did for you" as the corner sailed over his head and into our keepers arms to a loud cheer. I have many many more. Good thread this.
The thing I notice about that game is that Jason Bowen came on for MLT after 42 minutes and was subbed on 73 minutes like a Welsh Ali Dia!. I have no recollection of him ever playing or even signing for us...
I started watching Saints at the Dell in 1975 when I arrived for college. I was a neutral spectator, and generally stood in the same place in the Archers. There was an old bloke who also always stood in the same spot a few yards from me - every time Saints got a throw or a free kick or a corner, he`d bellow out " Come on you Sinners!". Now I`m that old codger. My second game was 4-0 win against our fishy chums. I could identify with Saints because they had a few Scottish players, and were of a similar provincial status to Aberdeen. After a few months, I found myself being strangely irate and indignant when a decision wrongly went against us - I`d been drawn into an invisible web with no way of escape. At the end of the season, we won the cup - I thought it would be like that every year!
First time to the Dell was I reckon 1953ish. I think it was a friendly to celebrate the installation of floodlights (cue some historian to prove me wrong) Saints v All Star 11. Dad took me because Stanley Matthews was playing. Post-war Soton was drab, lots of bomb sites on the way to the Dell. It was eerily dark as we walked to the match, I clung on to the sleeves of my old man's demob overcoat, we pushed through the turnstiles and then I saw the lights illuminating the emerald green pitch and fell in love, a love that has been sorely tested recently, it's flickering but will never die. Footnote: I left home at 15 and never really returned but when I did I watched the Saints and return the compliment to Dad a die-hard supporter, last time I was able to take home to St Mary's he was 96. Sure that's not a record age but I've often wondered if anyone knows of an older attendee?
Sat on back bench in family section. Lots of memories…Matty’s last goal at Dell right in front of me. Also remember smell as ladies queue for the ONE toilet straggled back past entrance to men’s bog (accurate description rather than slang term).
Only managed to grab a few games at The Dell because I was 12 when we moved to St Marys and I was limited to cup games only, but I live off Hulse Road now so it would have been mighty convenient if it was still here (also the old cricket ground). My parents used to drive past it to keep me amused on the way home from town. First game I saw at The Dell was a friendly against Lierse on 28/07/99, last one was the FA Cup home game against Tranmere where we had three goals disallowed and then went on to lose 4-3 in the replay after being 3 up. Memories.....
A rather long story & might not be able to install the humour but here goes. We had an evening cup game vs Palace. I had planned to park as usual over the other side of the Avenue & walk to meet mates in the Fitzhugh. Surprisingly, my dad now in his 60’s & who hadn’t gone for years & years, decided to go; asked me to get tickets for him & mum!!! - she’d never been before! Saints must have been on a bit of a roll & it was a “dead cert win” as he’s not a good fan when things are bad. Anyway, I said I’d take them in my car. They went straight to ground to find their seats (Upper East, I think?). Me the pub & into Lower West Stand terraces. Typical Saints, losing 1-0 with about 10mins left & then equalised. It must have been a League Cup match(?) as it wasn’t a reply & went straight to ET, where we went on to win 2-1. I was very happy making my way back to the car & actually quite ecstatic as mum & dad had seen quite a magical evening cup win at the Dell. Got to the car & dad went nuts; where have you been? At the pub boozing it up have you!? I then realised he’d done his usual; left early, didn’t see/hear the equaliser & waited at the car for about an hour before I meandered back! He was royally pissed off for a week or so! Poor mum; she never went again!
My first game was as a 9th birthday present against the great Man United team of Best, Charlton and Law under the West Stand near the Archers. My old man took me and he was a Manure fan naturally being a Devonian but the Saints won the match and I was enthralled with the green pitch and the songs and I fell in love that day. I'll never forget the crush leaving the ground amongst 30,000 fans in the tiny old ground and struggling for air (i'm amazed that there was never a Hillsborough situation back then). https://www.11v11.com/matches/southampton-v-manchester-united-21-november-1970-80901/ When I was older my sister's boyfriend started to take me and he was a bit of a lad and took me to The Warrens before each home game which was the Saints hoolie pub of the day and a mob of us would walk up to the ground together. One match against Brighton he decided it was a good idea to get in free by climbing on the church roof at the corner of the Archers and the East Stand and dropping into the ground but unknown to us the police were wise to that and had a van with a full view and caught us on the roof and subsequently threw us out with just a caution luckily. The match was being recorded for Southern TV and we managed to get in an OB van and watch the game on a monitor until the doors were opened at the Archers ten minutes before the end of the match and we went in. Happily Saints won 5-1 and after the game it was the ritual looking for oppo fans down Hill Lane afterwards. https://www.11v11.com/matches/southampton-v-brighton-and-hove-albion-09-february-1980-85155/ Another game was when we given seat tickets in the upper tier in the West Stand against Leicester near the Milton the trouble was that the goalmouth at the Archers was completely obscured from view by an upright and Saints were attacking that end in the first half. We had a storming first half and scored four goals before HT and we missed every goal. We had a perfect view of the Milton goalmouth and we were looking forward to a complete rout in the second half but naturally the game ended 4-0! https://www.11v11.com/matches/southampton-v-leicester-city-27-december-1980-85595/
One of my favourite memories at The Dell was a reserve game v Arsenal. Pat Jennings was in goal for Arsenal and a bunch of us kids ran on the pitch to get his autograph. The Ref blew his whistle and asked us leave the pitch so we could start the match. Pat said "Once I've finished signing these autographs we can start."
