Whether because of age, geography or whatever reason, which of you never saw Saints play at the Dell (in person, tv doesn't count)? Just curious to who can count themselves as "St Mary's only" generation of SFC fans.
I had a season ticket at the Dell when I was a kid for a couple of seasons in the family centre above the Milton Rd End. I then started playing football Saturdays and could only go occassionally. It got frustrating in the Premier League Dell years not being able to get tickets. I saw the Brighton "game" at The Dell, but the league game before that had been up the Wimbledon end as my mate managed to ge me a ticket with his Wimbledon mates.
Due to age and being the only one in my family who likes football (aside from my even younger brother), I couldn't go until I was able to get myself there so didn't ever go to The Dell. Really feel like I missed out.
I had a season ticket as a nipper at The Dell when I was 7 back in '95. Will never forget those legendary toilets up some stairs and outside where the piss practically froze to the floor of the urinal on a cold boxing day game against Chelsea!
I loved The Dell, it was a cracking ground! I saw my first ever football match there - Saints v Leeds. Brilliant day, the club left an everlasting impression on me!
I miss The Dell. I used to be in the Young Saints bit in the early/mid ninties, I remember Franny Benali coming over and giving me an autograph, he became my hero and I wanted a tash just like his. One of my strongest memories (even though i wasn't at the match) was when Saints beat Man U 6-3. My mum let me stay up and watch MOTD that night. =)
The first Saints game I saw was when Chelsea came to St Mary's in 2003/04, their first season with Russian millions. I was 10 at the time. Chelsea won the game 1-0, but I think it was Kevin Phillips who missed by millimetres in the last minute of the game. I loved the game though, and I've tried getting to about one or two a season ever since. Me moving to England next year will definitely see me at more games. Saints v P*mpey is a no brainer, and I'll see about getting to a couple more too
unfortunately i only began supporting saints in 2002/2003, when i was about 8 or 9. i supported liverpool before then but my dad got us a season ticket at saints, and i began supporting them from then on
Unfortunately I am unable to vote in the poll because I don't belong in any of the categories. Believe it or not, although I went to the Dell countless times, from my first visit on 20th August 1966 (nearly 45 years ago, for crying out loud!) I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO ST. MARY'S! A combination of work and family commitments, geography, and, for a while, during the worst of the Lowe years, disillusionment, has meant I have never been to watch Saints in the last 10 years. Please accept my apologies, and I promise to rectify the matter sometime this coming season.
Went to my first game at the Dell in 1987 v Coventry. The Cov fans were a rough lot. What was the name of that pub in Archers Road on the corner by the traffic lights? Had a shandy in there before the game (keeping well away from the Cov fans). Stood on the Milton Rd terrace and very cheap back then. Used to go to Simon's Winebar on Bedford Place before matches (anyone know if it is still open?) for lunch and a beer. I wasn't so keen on the Dell when it became all-seater and the Milton end stand design just looked very odd because of the road running behind it.
I used to go as an eleven year old in the late 60's - you queued outside the milton rd end and paid on the turnstile. all the noisy lads sttod at the back, so as a youngun you started nearer the front, and if lucky grabbed a place with your back to the crash barriers. No segreagation in those days, so the away support would all try and take over the milton rd end, so lots of police in the crowd to make sure it was safe (well safeish) great atmosphere, especially for night games - if you have never experienced a full milton rd end at night in full song.... you've not lived!
I echo those sentiments olddellboy.........The atmosphere created was out of this world....unbelievable!
Supported Southampton from my earliest memories...no idea why because i grew up in the North West of Ireland but i've only been able to start going to games in the last couple of seasons...I'd say i might get a good few games in this season, girlfriend has already said she wolud bring me to the Watford away game so happy days!
I started supporting the Saints when my Grandad used to take me up to the Dell from my hometown of Poole. March 16th (my birthday) 1984 beating Liverpool 2-1 at the Dell is one of my first memories and it does not get much better than that! Danny Wallace scored both goals and one was a wonder strike in the form of a bicycle kick into the top corner. Just watched it again on you tube and it gets better everytime I watch it. Teams hated coming to the Dell. Beating Man Ure 6-3 is another great example of that!
I started watching Saints in the early/mid 1980s - My dad and I had season tickets - so saw a lot of games at the Dell. We moved away in the early/mid 90s, so we only saw a limited number of games at the Dell after that and gave up the season tickets. In fact I went to more away games in that period. I've been to St Marys a number of times, but have actually been to the Dell more often.
