aussiesaint20

Just on his penalty record alone he has to stay. Fraser has saved 15 of 37 over his career. Alex's record is 3 of 25

Thought the weekend off might be a good chance to update all our global supporter groups. There's now an interactive mapped version available to everyone. Perfect for those living abroad or travelling who want to get in touch with other Saints fans in their area. For those interested, we finally had a decent kick-off time in Melbourne (9.30pm) and the celebration to match when Vestergaard scored The list of supporter groups and relevant links are also updated on the Overseas Saints board. Now to watch Steve Smith cruise to 100..

Groups and venues now updated for the 2019/20 season. Get in touch if you know of others

Yeah this is simple and catchy. Gets my vote. 'Ingggs can only get better. Can only get better Now Danny's come home Now Danny's come home'

Time to get Big Vic's song back? He's Norwegian, he's our Norwegian Like Claus and Østenstad It's Elyounoussi Mo Elyounoussi And he flies down the wing AhhhElyounoussi Elyounoussi Elyounoussi Elyounoussi

Thought this post, from an American perspective, was worth sharing. Particularly the comments about the fans he met on the day and interactions with the players post-game. ***LONG POST WARNING*** We got in touch with a young American Saints fan, Alec Weise, after his first ever Southampton game to find out more about the day and how he came to support Southampton. The reply we received from Alec (below) is simply brilliant �� If you’re a long suffering overseas Saints fan you’ll love this Alec was only in S’ton for 48 hours but has said the memories from his trip will last a lifetime ✈️ Enjoy: �� I started supporting Southampton 8 years ago (2009-2010 season). I have always been one to root for the underdog and a lot of that has to do with where I am from, Milwaukee, WI. Our sports teams don’t have the money to spend like teams from New York, Chicago, or LA so we are often not very good. Every once and awhile we will get a special player or two and have a serious shot at titles but it isn’t common. �� Anyway, growing up I never followed soccer because it just wasn’t popular amongst Americans. I played FIFA for the first time and instantly fell in love with the game. Then I started watching games on TV as I now knew the players and then I realized how amazing a sport it is. All I needed was a team to root for each week. I went down to League One, because I have always rooted for the small teams, and did some research on each club. �� I got about halfway through when I found Southampton. I watched a video of Le Tiss and was just amazed by how good he was and at that moment I had my team. Each year since then my fandom has grown, especially since we have made the Premier League because it finally gave me a chance to watch the matches. If we were to go down this year it wouldn’t matter one bit to me as I will forever by a die-hard Saints fan and no one can change my mind. ✈️ I decided to go to the Bournemouth match because of our relegation threat. I am studying in England in the fall for school so I will catch numerous matches next year, but I wanted to make sure I saw my team play in the Prem while still possible. �� The trip itself was better than anything I could’ve ever imagined. Going in I was worried that it wouldn’t live up to my expectations and that I would leave less of a supporter than I came to England as. However, I left two times the supporter I was before, which is pretty incredible considering I haven’t missed a match live on TV or radio in nearly 4 years. �� The first thing I noticed the day before the match was how nice the city itself was. The city center was beautiful and I was blown away by West Quay. I made the walk to St. Mary’s to go to the team store and I was in absolute shock when I saw it. Having seen it so many times in pictures and on TV I couldn’t believe I was actually there. I proceeded to buy way too much Southampton apparel (kits were 70% off so I got 6…oops) and spent the rest of my day walking around the city. �� On match day, I went to The Standing Order a few hours before kick-off where I met some amazing people. I casually went up to a table of Southampton supporters to ask them questions about the match day experience. They were AMAZING and helped me out a lot and asked me a lot of questions about my hometown and why I became a Southampton supporter. �� After an hour or so sitting at their table one of the gentlemen I was with (@Madmarky01 on twitter, follow him!) and I left for the stadium around two hours before kick-off. He showed me around and told me where the buses came in and where the players would sign after the game. He also introduced me to another die-hard Southampton supporter who would help me out a ton after the game. �� When I walked into the stadium and saw the pitch for the first time I cried… I’ll admit it. It was so surreal to actually be there. I walked around the inside for a little just making small chat with everyone that was there. The whole club and its supporters having an amazing family feeling about it, which is something that made me fall even more in love with the club. What was even more amazing was people were coming up to me and saying that they saw I was in town for the match on twitter and they were all so excited I was there and wished me a good time. ⚽️ When the teams came out to warm-up and came out of the tunnel right before kick-off I was still in awe of everything, but about 5 minutes into the match the nerves kicked in and all that mattered were the 3 points. Something I will never forget was singing “Oh when the Saints” for the first time. I am literally getting chills right now just thinking about it. Having the whole crowd sing in unison isn’t something I get back here at home. �� The match itself was amazing. At the time I wish it was a 4-0 easy win for my nerves but looking back I’m glad it was a nail-biting win. The intensity and pressure made my experience that much more amazing. I’ll never forget Redmond playing through Lemina who then slid the ball over to Tadic who slotted past Begovic. The pure jubilation from my first live goal was something I can still feel when I watch replays. ✏️ Afterwards I went and met up with the lady who I was introduced to before the match (Claire Cradock for those of you who know her…Amazing lady) and she brought me to where all of the players sign. I got my kit signed by almost the whole squad AND Sam McQueen took off his warm-up top, signed it, and gave it to me. ���� What amazed me most was how kind all of the players were. They all were amazed that I flew out for literally two days just to come watch the match and they even called me the good luck charm, which may be true considering it was our first home win in the league since November! Outside of McQueen I want to give special shout-outs to Oriol, Charlie, Prowsey, Bertrand, and Jack Stephens who were all great. All of the players were nice, but these are the ones that really stuck out in my mind. �� Overall I had the best day of my life, and I wouldn’t say it was close. Between meeting all of the amazing fans, the win, and getting to meet most of the players it was more than I could have ever imagined. Now I can’t wait to get back next fall and make even more memories. Most importantly, LETS GO GET 3 POINTS AT SWANSEA ON TUESDAY!!! Up the Saints! Photos of Alec's day can be found at Global Saints

I'm friends with one of the people invited to this event. She was invited by the club because she's been running an unofficial fan page on Weibo for the last 5 years or so. The other invitees were drawn in a ballot from the WeChat group and other unofficial supporter groups. The main reason for the meeting was to make their supporter group official ahead of a likely visit by the club in pre-season. There are a few more photos of the day up at: https://www.instagram.com/GlobalSFC/ They were also told there would be a striker coming in during the window.. As someone said above, if it was only an asset-stripping venture for Gao then it's unlikely he would bother with this sort of stuff.

This guy and his partner come from Norway for every home match!

Seems like one of the kids, Victor Viana, from the 'Charles Miller Day' back in 2014 has really kicked on. He won a Southampton shirt at the event - by scoring past two hapless GK's and has been supporting the club ever since. A few years ago his family moved to the States and he's been climbing steadily through the ranks: . Over the summer he trained with Dinamo Zagreb's youth team but Victor and his family would prefer to try their luck with an English club (with Southampton their preference). Just wondering if anyone could forward this to the right people? Can't have Guly as our greatest Brazilian footballer forever..

The guys (and girls) from SouthamptonFC Canada will be heading to the Right Wing Sports Bar - 2497 Yonge Street. I think the name is a food reference rather than a political one.. 'The choice is all yours at the Right Wing Sports Pub where you can indulge in 38 different sauces on your jumbo wings half-price on Mondays. Not up for wings? Design your own burger or salad with more than 20 options apiece. With 20 flat screens across the bar, there’s no fear of missing a second of the game, even when playing pool or ping pong in the party room downstairs. Wing fiends who think they’ve seen it all should try and take on The Exorcist, if they dare.'

Latest update: BRASIL Rio de Janeiro: Lord Jim's Pub R. Paul Redfern, 44 - Ipanema. 2.30pm KO CANADA Calgary: Ship and Anchor - 534 17 Ave SW. 9.30am KO Montreal: Mckibbins Irish Pub, 1426 Rue Bishop 11.30am KO Toronto: Right Wing Sports Pub - 2497 Yonge St. 11.30am KO GERMANY Leipzig: Kiliwilly Traditional Irish Pub - Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 44. 5.30pm KO SOUTH AFRICA Cape Town: Cubana Green Point - 9 Somerset Rd, Green Point. 6.30pm KO USA Pittsburgh: Piper's Pub, 1828 E Carson Street. 11.30am KO San Francisco: Kezar Pub, 770 Stanyan St. 8.30am KO

Definitely not the only one. Should be at least half a dozen Saints there. Here's the official event listing.

Saw this on the Global Saints page: 'Cubana in Somerset St, Green Point, Cape Town showing the final.' Posted by Murray Barrett..

Three more venues added: ARGENTINA Buenos Aires: The Gibraltar, Perú 895, Cdad 1.30pm KO AUSTRALIA Sydney: 24/7 Sports Bar, 80 Pyrmont St, Pyrmont. 3.30am KO USA Baton Rogue: The Londoner, 4215 S Sherwood Forest Blvd 10.30am KO Any thoughts on best places in Southampton to watch the final?

Lockout laws make Sydney a bit tougher. It's between the Casino and Cheers Bar.. If he's on FB the venue when confirmed will be posted at Facebook.com/AussieSaintsFC as well as the Cup Final venue map

Three more venues.. AUSTRALIA Perth: Crown Sports Bar, Crown Perth, Great Eastern Hwy, Burswood 00.30am KO CAMBODIA Siem Reap: Score Bar, Sok San Road. 11.30pm KO GREECE Athens: Athens Sports Bar, Veikou 3, Athina 117 42 6.30pm KO

As the title suggests this is for people who can't make it to Wembley for whatever reason. These are venues where you can watch the Cup Final with fellow Southampton fans and (hopefully) celebrate long into the night. I'll try and keep the list updated over coming weeks. All the venues listed below are Saints friendly and have confirmed they will be showing the match live and with sound. Some of these venues may contain some (United) plastic, but that will come as no surprise to anyone. Anyway, on with the list: ARGENTINA Buenos Aires: The Gibraltar, Perú 895, Cdad 1.30pm KO AUSTRALIA Brisbane: Pig 'N' Whistle Riverside, 123 Eagle Street. 2.30am KO Melbourne: Imperial Hotel, 2-8 Bourke Street. 3.30am KO Perth: Crown Sports Bar, Crown Perth, Great Eastern Hwy, Burswood 00.30am KO Sydney: 24/7 Sports Bar, 80 Pyrmont St, Pyrmont. 3.30am KO BRASIL Rio de Janeiro: Lord Jim's Pub R. Paul Redfern, 44 - Ipanema. 2.30pm KO CANADA Calgary: Ship and Anchor - 534 17 Ave SW. 9.30am KO Montreal: Mckibbins Irish Pub, 1426 Rue Bishop 11.30am KO Toronto: Right Wing Sports Pub - 2497 Yonge St. 11.30am KO Vancouver: The Pint Vancouver, 455 Abbott Street. 8.30am KO CAMBODIA Siem Reap: Score Bar, Sok San Road. 11.30pm KO GERMANY Leipzig: Kiliwilly Traditional Irish Pub - Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 44. 5.30pm KO GREECE Athens: Athens Sports Bar, Veikou 3, Athina 117 42 6.30pm KO SOUTH AFRICA Cape Town: Cubana Green Point - 9 Somerset Rd, Green Point. 6.30pm KO THAILAND Bangkok: The Sportsmans SportsBar, Soi 13, Khlong Toei, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10110. 11.30pm KO UAE Dubai: Barasti Beach Bar, Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina. 8.30pm KO USA Baltimore: Slainte Irish Pub, 1700 Thames Street. 11.30am KO Baton Rouge: The Londoner, 4215 S Sherwood Forest Blvd 10.30am KO Boston: Banshee Bar, 934 Dorchester Ave. 11.30am KO Chicago: The Globe Pub, 1934 W Irving Park Rd. 10.30am KO Columbus: Zauber Brewing Company, 909 W 5th Ave. 11.30am KO New York: Legends 6 West 33rd Street. 11.30am KO Pittsburgh: Piper's Pub, 1828 E Carson Street. 11.30am KO San Francisco: Kezar Pub, 770 Stanyan St. 8.30am KO If you know of any other venues that tick all the boxes: Saints friendly, open and showing the game with sound, please post them below. Cheers!

A post I made of a similar vein on the Aussie Saints FB page: 'So..there's the small matter of a Cup Semi Final tomorrow. From what we've observed the general mood appears to be a downtrodden one, as if the result has already been decided. This seems a little odd from our perspective, when at the end of the day only one opponent stands in our way to a return to Wembley. These are the days we were dreaming of back in the depths of the Championship and League One. We had a taste in the JPT but this would mean so much more to a proud club, with an admittedly sparse trophy cabinet. To hear that this match isn't sold out yet is somewhat baffling. I would personally love the opportunity to be there later today. This should be 90 minutes of a loud and proud atmosphere at St Mary's - including a special tribute in the 20th minute for a young Saints fan taken too soon. TO THE FANS HEADING TO ST MARY'S, please leave the negativity at home for at least one match. Claude Puel has managed to do what Koeman and Pochettino couldn't - get us into a major cup SF. For that alone he deserves his chance to take us one step further. A positive result may look unlikely, but at the end of the day this is Southampton. Anything can happen. Please put the white flag down, chuck on the red and white stripes and get behind the lads for these 90 minutes. COYRs!! #QueSeraSera'

Addams family tune: ♪ He played for Barcelona, He shaves his head all over; Our midfield controller, O-ri-ol Ro-meu Do-do-do-do ROMEU Do-do-do-do ROMEU Do-do-do-do do-do-do-do do-do-do-do ROMEU ROMEU

Addams family tune: ♪ He played for Barcelona, He shaves his head all over; Our midfield controller, O-ri-ol Ro-meu Do-do-do-do ROMEU Do-do-do-do ROMEU Do-do-do-do do-do-do-do do-do-do-do ROMEU ROMEU

From the SFCUSA page Dave Batten: I've said it before and I'll say it again....as someone originally from Southampton, but now living in the USA, I LOVE seeing Americans choosing Southampton as their favorite team. Growing up in Southampton, if someone told me that in a few years saints would have a legion of American fans, I'd think you were crazy, as we were just a small town team....but now I look at this and see that reality is upon us, and it is getting even bigger! It really feels me with immense pride and I love that you guys have all chosen Southampton as your team. It doesn't matter if you've been supporting saints for 5 minutes or 50 years...we're all in it together, all equal, all loving the saints! Big cudos to my American brothers!

Certainly more about 'following' the games than watching them - although that will always be the preference. That part of 38in38 is all about seeing and sharing how our fans follow Southampton from different parts of the world. During the Championship-League One-Championship years my best friend was certainly Saints Player! Contrary to Steve's comment above I'm not a bottomless pit of money, unfortunately. I made a Kickstarter page for the project, but may have left the run a little late. I've set up a series of rewards for any contributors and the whole process will be inclusive throughout. It's an all-or-nothing funding model so nothing gained, nothing lost. It's not the ideal approach but contact to the club, and their sponsors, has so far fallen on deaf ears. If anyone has Katharina's number.. Man City's version.

Have been friends with Tayo for a few years now and echo all of the above. Here's a little video of Tayo & the Nigerian Saints for those interested. I'm actually hoping to meet Tayo and the group in Lagos this December.

Definitely! Have almost been on here for 10 years now. Can't forget my roots I'll make sure to post a more detailed plan for each country in the weeks leading up to the match. Where an ex-Saint is involved I'll also be asking you guys for questions in advance and posting the resultant video. Thank you to everyone for the positive feedback, it's really appreciated! I'll certainly be doing my best to include as many overseas Southampton fans and groups as I possibly can.

Thanks! Really appreciate you taking the time to watch the video. Haven't been able to get in touch with the media department yet, although one of the Swiss fans did mention it to Ralph last week and I'm told he was 'blown away by the idea'. I've become good friends with John Sydenham since his move to Melbourne and he's very keen to take part in the first leg/match of the trip. He also put me in touch with Terry who is heading over from SA for the Palace match (and SKD's testimonial) and has said he'll talk to the club about 38in38. I'd like to include as much fan interaction as possible throughout the trip - would you guys be interested in Q+A's with former Saints now living abroad? You get to come up with the questions and I'll ask them (within reason..) The aim is to go about the trip in a very 'Southampton Way' by doing more with less; cheap flights, buses, and staying with Saints fans. In regards to the content and delivery, it would definitely help to get the club on board for that professional finish. The plan at the moment is for regular updates on social media, as well as an image and video rich blog post for each country. Have also had confirmation from radio stations (in the U.K. and Aus), football websites and blogs that are keen to cover 38in38. Although with the club on board, as well, it certainly would expand the scope of possibilities.