spyinthesky

But news today that Bournemouth and Boscombe Albion have been served with a Winding Up Order by HMRC. Saints could be last man standing in this neck of the woods!!

To be fair to Ho, I think it is highly unlikely that he is one of the nasty knuckle dragger types we often see sporting Pompey colours. He does seem to have a modicum of intelligence, albeit misplaced at times. Ho also appears to be a fairly well balanced person nowadays ie a chip on both shoulders.

I think trying to link the bad feeling towards industrial disputes is rather misleading. I went to school in Fareham (no probs with Pompey boys at that time) and later worked in shipping so have an understanding of the industrial issues at least. In my view the bad feeling was originally caused by Pompey fans (I can remember our mascot having gravel thrown at him at Fratton Park during a game in the early/mid 60's) but fans generally mixed OK. The demise of Pompey at the time co- incided with Saints rise from relative obscurity in the old third division to surpass Pompey as the leading team in Hants. By then I was a bit older and used to frequent Pompey nightclubs like the Birdcage where you kept the fact you supported Saints to yourself. However Pompey supporting friends from school days could come to Soton with relative impunity. I also played football at a reasonable level and began to notice that playing against teams from the Pompey area would result in a bit of stick from supporters. This didn't seem to be reciprocated when Pompey teams came to this area altho as time progressed (and Soton became more influential as a city eg BBC & ITV centered here. football club became more successful etc) the aggro from the Pompey area became more intense. In recent years this has been reciprocated from the Soton side so much so that the 'hatred' on both sides is probably more evenly spread which is a shame for all reasonable people

The Southampton Company of Union Men (SCUM) so lauded by the Pompeyites is utter tosh There was little or no bad feeling between the rival fans until the late 60's and beyond when hooliganism reared its ugly head across the country In fact quite a few Saints fans went down to Fratton Park to see Div 1 football in the 50's. There is some suggestion of Portsmouth men being brought in to take the place of striking Soton based rail workers in one isolated incident in the late 19th century but no suggestion of any lasting issues. However there is FACTUAL evidence in the Soton Echo archives (around 21/22 November 1976 if my memory serves me correct) when Portsmouth Dockers working at the Commercial Port reneged on a deal not to handle some ferry trade originally located in Plymouth (the fledgling Brittany Ferry Service I think) Portsmouth Dockers were part of a South Coast Dockers Action Group (including Soton, who chaired the group through sheer amount of members, Poole, Weymouth and Plymouth) The Portsmouth Dockers, having originally agreed not to handle the transferred ships,then reneged on the promise not for the first time, and the other group members (mainly Soton Dockers due to the geographic proximity) turned up in numbers to picket the gates at Albert Johnson Quay. The Pompey Dockers basically shat themselves and the police had to turn out in numbers to uphold the law. Several Soton Dockers were arrested, including Sammy Charles (a big bugger), the brother of Bob Charles the ex England Youth and Saints Goalie. The dispute carried on over a couple of days and made headlines in the Echo and the News. Ritchie Pearce (who went on the run the Corner Post/Fitzhugh Arms)was the Chairman of the Soton and SW Dockers at the time. One of the Pompey boys went by the name of 'Docker Hughes' (he once stood as a local councillor and got a good few votes) a very skinny version of John PFC W******d (ie a total knob). Apparently he and a few mates subsequently dreamed up the story of 'SCUM' strike breaking in the 1920/1930's to deflect from the Pompey Dockers 'SCABBING' in the 70's Its amazing how the SCUM fictitious nonsense is now etched in folklore when the actual events I have described can be found in the relevant ECHO/NEWS archives or the main Soton/Pompey libraries. It would be good to have someone verify, and expand upon the details I have posted. Incidentally I heard a new one posted on Radio 5 on Friday and had something to do with Pompey Dockers (should have been seamen if true) refusing to work on the 'Titanic' and instead demanding to work on her sister ship the 'Olympic' thereby sending hundreds of Soton boys to their deaths. Absolute nonsense but no doubt someone will believe and pass on.

Think this is true

With correct spelling

Ho You are quite right to be confident as Saints fans generally were when Pompey were lower down the pecking order which has generally been the case in the past 40 years However there was always a niggling doubt that an upset could be caused. A lower ranked team wining against the odds is always going to cause more satisfaction to the winner/dismay to the loser. Nobody will really be surprised if Pompey do prevail tomorrow but your sense of hurt will be manifiedif you lose!! btw I recollect that Piers Morgan was once a stalwart at the Mirror. Didn't he big up one of your recent owners?

How many on here remember the old railway football specials? They were all the rage until hooliganism took over and trains were wrecked on a regular basis. I recollect going to the 63 semi at Villa Park on one of about 7 or 8 special trains from the Central. Going down the hill to the Central and seeing hordes of Saints fans waiting to board trains was really something. Also took an overnight special from the old Docks Station to Hull a year or so later getting into a cold and foggy Hull around 6am and wandering round until the match started at 3pm Both games lost 1-0!! Anyway understand that Football Specials have started again in a small way using decent rolling stock now stabled at Eastleigh. Wonder if something could be done for the JPT direct to the nearest mainline station to Wembley? If you think about it there are probably only 150 or so coaches in the area, maybe 200. They could only take a maximum of 5,000 people to Wembley leaving upwards of 40,000 to go by the Sunday service SWT service or by road and tube. Love to see a train full of Saints fans (pulled by steam!!) I'll get my anorak!!

Arent they due a Sky payout in next couple of months which could earn a 28 day of execution? Or should they just be executed?

Great to be part of a big crowd altho' thought the atmosphere was a little flat at times. Who would have thought this time last year that we would be marching on to Wembley, even in a junior competition? Actually thought our general performance last night was poor against an average side lacking some of their better players. We still struggle for creativity in midfield and both Antonio and Waigo, altho providing some positives, do not do the good things consistently enough for my liking. I was also concerned with the Fonte and Jaidi pairing. Both decent players in my view but neither shone last night and seemed to have a communication problem. However, finishing on a positive, well done to Lallana, Harding, Lambert, and Thomas (not normally my favourite player) for putting in a decent shift. Proabably Hammond too altho he doesnt seem as influential as when he first arrived. Lets hope the team cranks up a gear or two for Saturday as poor as Pompey are in the Prem there is a big gap in quality as you go down the Leagues

Thought Ref was fairly lenient last night WT would have been sent off in most games and Dean Hammond had 3 or 4 'robust' challenges which would normally have been a yellow plus once he kicked the ball away after a foul Still fair play to the Ref

Happens all the time. Used to sit in the old East Stand at the Dell where we had a bloke (in late/away early) who used to slag Channon off every game. Also remember others who 'chastised' Alan Ball. Further back Jimmy Melia and Lew Chatterley used to get a load of stick We all suffer from frustrations on the pitch but not good to verbally articulate this on a regular basis. Not supporting the team in my view

OK I know I'm a half empty glass merchant but we never seem to win when live on TV. Also we have never lost at St Marys or in a Cup Game in our history(I think) against that lot down the road so have a perfect record to defend. Hope the portents aren't as bad as I make out!!

Isnt our old friend Pele now on the books of Falkirk (but recently injured?)

Apologies if I got this wrong. Usually check up on facts before posting but relied totally on memory. Did Ipswich go 1-0 up? Also Ipswich used to have a left winger by the name of Jimmy Leadbetter. All skin and bone, knobby knees, a few strands of brylcreamed hair, the lot, a proper 1950's type footballer. No pace or tackling ability but very skilful. A lower rent Terry Paine but very effective in his day and supplied Crawford and Phillips with plenty of crosses

Not sure if it has been posted elsewhere but as Pompey are 'challenged' in the wallet department, they have applied for Legal Aid to fight their upcoming cases with HMRC/Premier League/Creditors etc etc. Also rumour going round that Mr Williamson is asking for a loyalty bonus from Pimpey before his move to Newcastle

I was stood at the Milton Rd end when Saints bt Ipswich 7-0 in a cup game Ipswich were a decent side and had Ray Crawford, a useful Centre Forward (Pompey lad) up front. Crawford had been in the Army (on National Service, presumably in the Far East) and an older bloke next to be kept on shouting out 'Jungle Boy you're useless' One of the odd things you remember from your Saints supporting days!!

Anyone know Romsey Blue who posts on the Pompey site and is very disparaging about the Saints? Most unfair I'd say

Two things: Any 'Port extension' will be at Dibden Bay (next door to Marchwood I grant you) and not for another 10-15 yrs, if at all. Secondly Markus has no interest in the crane business now, his interests lie in completely different directions. As Fitzhugh Fella has mentioned in a previous post, it will be intersting to learn why Markus became involved in the first place. Only thing I can think of is a profit on the initial £12m investment if the club attracts interest as a Prem club. However how much will it cost to achieve this aim??

Saw Teddy when with Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes at the Gaumont back in my younger days. Great!!!!

You are correct. Fuller details contained within the Independent obit which is attached to one of ESB's earlier posts

ESB As you say, the journo really knows his stuff. Looking back thro' my record collection realised I had a copy of Al Green's 'Back Up Train' released before he became well known. Think I probably listened to this track first on Mike Raven's R&B Show which was either on BBC Radio or Radio Luxemburg on a Sunday night at 7PM As they say Nostalgia aint what it used to be!!

If you were a half decent player would you want to go to Pompey, a club in turmoil and possibly bound for the Championship (and beyond!!)?

ESB Thanks, as ever for your informative posts. Didnt realise that Don Bryant did the vocals on 'That Driving Beat' This track so reminiscent of the Stax recordings featuring the Bar Keys

Thought he spoke very well especially as English isn't his first language. Made me cringe to compare this with an address by Nathan Dyer and Darren Powell in the Sponsors Lounge a few seasons ago. Talk about unintelligable nonsense. An interpreter would have come in handy!!