alehouseboys

You're right of course and you usually end up paying a lot more for a ticket on-the-day but nature of the beast I guess. In the 40-odd years I've been following this club I've lost count of the number of times the decision to 'go away' by some was made in the pub the night before!

A day or so before Carlisle away it was said we'd sold 700, we had a shade under 1,000 up there. Buying tickets on-the-day is gonna be a regular occurrence at many of our away games this season, I'd suggest there'll be 1,000+ tomorrow.

Let the revolution begin, Viva Las Itchenistas

Karen Brady coming...? I reckon it's all one big phallus-y

But they struggled to fill little fartton before the Sheikh. Bit of perspective needed...when we got a few lower gates in the early 90s during the 'Branfoot Out' campaign (lowest 10,800) crowds were low all over the country (eg skates 5k-ish). In those days Chelsea had home gates under 10k, West Ham, Everton, Villa all regularly well under 20k, sign of the times. Branfoot sacked, job done. The Prem changed it for everyone. Once the Dell went 15k all-seater we had a 'restricted' ST/Membership of something like 25k with a 5-year waiting list for a ST. This was years before we moved to SMS. All to watch a team constanstly fighting relegation, you've just had an unbelievable 5 or 6 years and the first sign of trouble your 'fans/JCLs' start deserting in their droves. And what did happen to the 1000s we were told about that were gonna fill 30k fartton park when promoted in the 80s...average gate 17k that long-awaited season...did they all get lost?

"Reminds me of a certain Saints"...St Helens, St Mirren? Just for the record Southampton Football Club never got "regular" crowds like that in the 90s, in fact we NEVER had a league crowd as low as 9k. Our lowest gates, whilst struggling in the Branfoot era, came about when we had SISA boycotts in an attempt to encourage his removal (and of course Le Tiss' return). Just one being slightly under 11k against Oldham, there were also a couple of 11k+ against Wimbledon and Notts County (all those would have included a couple of hundred away fans at best). Any gates of 13k against little clubs (like p*rtsmyth) bought very small support - not bad for the time, particularly for a struggling side (these were the days p*rtsmyth WERE getting regular gates of 5, 6 or 7k!). You'll be telling us next you all hate us so much because of some dock strike...............:smt023

I've had another look and of course you are correct - but just little tabs. Just feel, as putting bums-on-seats is probably the most important thing for the club, it should be (as you said) made easier to buy the tickets, a 'kin big flashing button leading to easy access would be a help (particularly for us old gits).

One criticism I'd have is it should be a lot simpler to buy tickets. Maybe it's just me but on the odd occassion I've needed to buy tickets online I seem to go round in circles trying to get there. There should be a big button on the home page flashing 'Buy Tickets Now'. The simpler the better.

I'm sure you really meant Wigan/Blackburn.

He should get down to Southampton...

I wouldn't argue with any of that just that, for a competition with little appeal for many and always one of those games that would attract a last-minute-decision, £15 was a bit steep on-the-night. Maybe not such an issue for buying in advance next time what with the opposition.

Calm down, we got the biggest attendance in round. People were entitled to raise an eyebrow at having to pay £15 on the night for this competition, never paid that for a 'reserve' game btw, however, I'd guess the club will look at this again adjust prices accordingly.

It was stated back in the summer that money wouldn't be lavished on the team but the appropriate funds would be made available at that particular level. I would think we would have a very competitive warchest of money to add to, what's beginning to look like, a strong improving squad. Anyways, whilst we're entitled to get a little excited about the potential we need to keep our heads down, get on with the job and hope by Christmas we can start dreaming of Wembley. Could be a few half-year season tickets in Xmas stockings this year.

He had a point tho. Anyways, I'm guessing the only way fartton could accommodate these 'temporary seats' would be if they leave the corners open when/if they redevelop and when/if the WC comes south they then erect the 'temps'...with no roof. Can't see how the FA would accept that, especially as they'd have a far better option 17 miles west. :smt023

The last two times I've been there we took something like 5,000 in the FA Cup, early 80s, and of course that Wednesday night way back in '78 when out of a gate of over 19,000 the vast majority were Saints fans. Didn't Barry Hearn have a pop at us in the summer? Don't think he'll appreciate too many Saints fans swamping his little bit of the East End.

See we all agree, we've been saying it all along that if you make fartton too big it will be half empty. Other than your promotion and just after, you've traditionally struggled to fill yer ground - even in your "Golden era". How big a ground do you need to fit in 17,000 home fans anyway? ...and you gotta larf..."temporary seating"

This is SMS, we 'ave to keep it simples... Na, na, na, na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na, Waigooooo (Hey Jude)

No they're not. £15 tonight for adult non-ST holders, I believe £7.50 if you produce your ST. Cheap for kids tho.

I knew the fake ailing doctor reminded me of someone...

OK, I know this post is a bit tongue-in-cheek but... Attacking the Chapel is like kicking towards the away fans as there's little noise/support eminating from that end for the home side and of course this would mean the visitors are attacking towards their own fans late in the game when we generally buckle and throw the game away. Must be time to bring back the legendary 'SCUMMAs'*, they're still revered by our fishy friends down the road, they never stop talking about them.:smt023 * Southampton's Chapel Ultras Matchday Mayhem Army

I've read the OS article again and realise I've misunderstood it. I mistakingly read it that they were moving the away fans around the corner into the Itchen and so giving us their blocks - but, of course, they're just reopening the Kingsland/Northam corner. Guess I read that too early on a Saturday morning. Can't really see it making that much difference in hindsight. Third final post

...and...when the teams come out Saints should now turn right and warm up that end. Send the visitors away from their contingent, we need to make it as uncomfortable for them as possible - and that way we may finally get into the habit of attacking the Northam second half. Attach, Attack, Attack-Attack-Attack...see, it's working already!

Blimey...they didn't hang around and answers a few questions raised on here over the past few days. Obviously our 'most' vocal fans are already set in their seats in the Northam which will now be further away from the away fans, will they try and move across? Hopefully the more lively types from the Itchen and Kingsland will fill these new seats. Wonder what will happen with a max away contingent in the FA Cup?

...and still too big for 'em...

You're like a stuck record. Crowds 3000 up on Lowe's Championship tenure. Admirable for a third tier club cut adrift at the bottom without a win up to that last home game...you are a skate aint ya?