Fitzhugh Fella Posted 18 November, 2009 Share Posted 18 November, 2009 Sorry mods I thought this worth starting a thread on its own. On the the thread re first away game you attended "the Old Codger" has posted about going to Burnley v Saints in January 1932, over 77 years ago. That beats anyone else by over 20 years. See post nos 139! Am pretty sure no one can beat that and his post is worth repeating below. It also is worth mentioning that it is great to see "old codgers" who still use these sort of forums who were watching Saints long before most of us were born. Fair play and total respect! I had to dig out my old diaries to confirm the exact date but mine was away to Burnley on 2nd January 1932. Still a very young lad we'd been visiting some relatives "oop north" for new year and couldn't get back - think it was something to do with limited trains on New Years Day. Stuck up there my Dad and Uncle (who we were visiting)) decided the delay home was fate as the mighty Saints were playing just up the road at Burnley and I was dragged along to watch. Don't remember a lot, I was too short to see anything except when I sat on Dad's shoulders for a while but I'll always remember we won 3-1. My Uncle was pleased as well, he was a Blackburn fan. No trouble in those days but lots of hats in the air when we scored, trilbys for us, flat caps for them. And not many trilbys either, in fact we may have been the only Saints fans there - transport wasn't easy back then and with no segregation I don't remember seeing any others. Been to many many more home and away since, but I'm just grateful to make it to the odd home game nowadays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derry Posted 18 November, 2009 Share Posted 18 November, 2009 What a great story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fowllyd Posted 18 November, 2009 Share Posted 18 November, 2009 That's brilliant - and well worth making into a thread too. Major respect to the Old Codger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TijuanaTim Posted 18 November, 2009 Share Posted 18 November, 2009 Old Codger dominates our very existence, good on him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Block 5 Posted 18 November, 2009 Share Posted 18 November, 2009 What a legend! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocco boxo Posted 18 November, 2009 Share Posted 18 November, 2009 Flat Cap off to him! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint J Posted 18 November, 2009 Share Posted 18 November, 2009 Love the Codger!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graffito Posted 18 November, 2009 Share Posted 18 November, 2009 That's a heartwarming post and great that you still make the occasional game Old Codger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadhall Saint Posted 18 November, 2009 Share Posted 18 November, 2009 Sorry mods I thought this worth starting a thread on its own. On the the thread re first away game you attended "the Old Codger" has posted about going to Burnley v Saints in January 1932, over 77 years ago. That beats anyone else by over 20 years. See post nos 139! Am pretty sure no one can beat that and his post is worth repeating below. It also is worth mentioning that it is great to see "old codgers" who still use these sort of forums who were watching Saints long before most of us were born. Fair play and total respect! I had to dig out my old diaries to confirm the exact date but mine was away to Burnley on 2nd January 1932. Still a very young lad we'd been visiting some relatives "oop north" for new year and couldn't get back - think it was something to do with limited trains on New Years Day. Stuck up there my Dad and Uncle (who we were visiting)) decided the delay home was fate as the mighty Saints were playing just up the road at Burnley and I was dragged along to watch. Don't remember a lot, I was too short to see anything except when I sat on Dad's shoulders for a while but I'll always remember we won 3-1. My Uncle was pleased as well, he was a Blackburn fan. No trouble in those days but lots of hats in the air when we scored, trilbys for us, flat caps for them. And not many trilbys either, in fact we may have been the only Saints fans there - transport wasn't easy back then and with no segregation I don't remember seeing any others. Been to many many more home and away since, but I'm just grateful to make it to the odd home game nowadays. Just love that! Trilby's down south and flat caps up north! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewell Posted 18 November, 2009 Share Posted 18 November, 2009 A toast to 'old codger'! Hip hip hooray!, hip hip hooray! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aintforever Posted 18 November, 2009 Share Posted 18 November, 2009 Top man! The war was won by people like Old Codger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonManager Posted 18 November, 2009 Share Posted 18 November, 2009 We're not worthy!!:prayer::smt023:smt041:smt038 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladysaint Posted 18 November, 2009 Share Posted 18 November, 2009 Great story and respect to the old guy for remembering it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victor Posted 18 November, 2009 Share Posted 18 November, 2009 Great story and respect to the old guy for remembering it. A little patronising - he was 32 at the time! (his Dad had strong shoulders) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 18 November, 2009 Share Posted 18 November, 2009 Sorry mods I thought this worth starting a thread on its own. On the the thread re first away game you attended "the Old Codger" has posted about going to Burnley v Saints in January 1932, over 77 years ago. That beats anyone else by over 20 years. See post nos 139! Been to many many more home and away since, but I'm just grateful to make it to the odd home game nowadays. What a great story, Duncan. Looking back at an earlier Saints publication" A complete history of .. " The facts are correct: january 2 1932 we did indeed win 3-1 Crowd 2000 (!) Scorers: Sillet 2, Arnold. line up 2-3-5 (as was in those days.)¨ Scriven in goal, Adams.W - Keeping Shelley - Bradford - Luckett O'Grady -Jepson - Sillett.C - Wilson - Arnold A few names there that my late father used to quote; Scriven, Keeping, Luckett and Arnold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fan The Flames Posted 18 November, 2009 Share Posted 18 November, 2009 Great tale indeed, I hope I make the odd home game in 2050. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junior Mullet Posted 18 November, 2009 Share Posted 18 November, 2009 Now the burberry caps stay well and truly on the head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedAndWhite91 Posted 18 November, 2009 Share Posted 18 November, 2009 My Granddad hadn't even reached his first birthday in January 1932!! Quite amazing. Fair play to 'Old Codger', may you continue to watch Saints games for many years to come! Excellent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fitzhugh Fella Posted 18 November, 2009 Author Share Posted 18 November, 2009 What a great story, Duncan. Looking back at an earlier Saints publication" A complete history of .. " The facts are correct: january 2 1932 we did indeed win 3-1 Crowd 2000 (!) Scorers: Sillet 2, Arnold. line up 2-3-5 (as was in those days.)¨ Scriven in goal, Adams.W - Keeping Shelley - Bradford - Luckett O'Grady -Jepson - Sillett.C - Wilson - Arnold A few names there that my late father used to quote; Scriven, Keeping, Luckett and Arnold. Not sure where we got that attendance from. I am still in awe at this story. My Dad was not even born when this match took place. The club should invite old codger to be a guest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huntingdon Posted 18 November, 2009 Share Posted 18 November, 2009 What makes so brilliant is that a guy in his 80's is logging sharing his story on an internet forum! A rather different world to 1932 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hayling Saint Posted 18 November, 2009 Share Posted 18 November, 2009 'Old Codger', If you ever want a ticket or a lift to a game let me know, I would be more then pleased to take you (and pay). Total respect for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EastleighSoulBoy Posted 19 November, 2009 Share Posted 19 November, 2009 'Old Codger', If you ever want a ticket or a lift to a game let me know, I would be more then pleased to take you (and pay). Total respect for you. Fair play to you too Hayling Saint! It's gestures like this that fill my chest with pride and make me very proud to be a Saints fan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkie Posted 19 November, 2009 Share Posted 19 November, 2009 That Old Codger is quite a bloke - I've met him a few times over the years. He never got the tribalism of the game that almost ruined it in the 70's & 80's. I haven't seen him for a while at an away game - perhaps he only makes it to The Kingsland these days under his tartan blanket with thermos flask for his HT cup of tea (with a nip of the hard stuff). The last time I saw him he was bemoaning the cost of a season ticket. He couldn't understand why our great club cared more about the quality of the catering than the quality of the football on the pitch! I doubt if he'll make it all the way to Hartlepool on a Tuesday night these days - as his dad can't drive him to away games any more! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALWAYS_SFC Posted 19 November, 2009 Share Posted 19 November, 2009 The old codger is a legend,utmost respect for you sir May be we should sing a song at every home game as a tribute to him Something like "there`s only one old codger"....? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West End Saint Posted 19 November, 2009 Share Posted 19 November, 2009 Yep fair play & massive respect to the Codger I think it is great that he still gets down to watch the mighty Saints. My Dad is in his late 60's & comes home & away with us he will continue to do so for as long as he can & he has got a lot of good years in him long may it continue he loves it. Fair play to all the old codgers that love the Saints I salute you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladysaint Posted 19 November, 2009 Share Posted 19 November, 2009 Anyone over 80 should be given free admission to matches at SMS. Who is the oldest regular away traveller. Annie who travels with me is over 70 and is still going every week home and away and will be Hartlepool next Tuesday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toomer Posted 19 November, 2009 Share Posted 19 November, 2009 That is a great story and he must have many more like it, my dad would have be 13 in 1932, wonder what his first away game was or even home game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianoneils slidingtackle Posted 19 November, 2009 Share Posted 19 November, 2009 I wonder how often "old codger's" patience has been tested over the years and what he considers the worst period of Saints history..!! A sad thought is that it only a few years before a lot of us older Saints will be classified as old codgers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toomer Posted 19 November, 2009 Share Posted 19 November, 2009 I wonder how often "old codger's" patience has been tested over the years and what he considers the worst period of Saints history..!! A sad thought is that it only a few years before a lot of us older Saints will be classified as old codgers My daughter calls me a GOM from time to time and I am only 55. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dune Posted 19 November, 2009 Share Posted 19 November, 2009 I'm amazed that a 77 year old can work a computer! Fair play to you Old Codger - you have my upmost respect. I like the bit about the Southerers wearing trilbys and the Northerners wearing flat caps. It just goes to show we've always had more fashion sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
londonsaint1604 Posted 19 November, 2009 Share Posted 19 November, 2009 I'm amazed that a 77 year old can work a computer! Fair play to you Old Codger - you have my upmost respect. I like the bit about the Southerers wearing trilbys and the Northerners wearing flat caps. It just goes to show we've always had more fashion sense. According to his post history he went on the anti-Lowe march last season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted 19 November, 2009 Share Posted 19 November, 2009 I'm amazed that a 77 year old can work a computer! Fair play to you Old Codger - you have my upmost respect. I like the bit about the Southerers wearing trilbys and the Northerners wearing flat caps. It just goes to show we've always had more fashion sense. I think he is older than 77 as it was 1932 when he went to game. Computers have been around for over fifty years so people in their eighties will have worked with them at some time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lets B Avenue Posted 19 November, 2009 Share Posted 19 November, 2009 I'm amazed that a 77 year old can work a computer! Fair play to you Old Codger - you have my upmost respect. I like the bit about the Southerers wearing trilbys and the Northerners wearing flat caps. It just goes to show we've always had more fashion sense. A bit older than 77. He wasn't new born when he went to the game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Block 5 Posted 19 November, 2009 Share Posted 19 November, 2009 Anyone over 80 should be given free admission to matches at SMS. Who is the oldest regular away traveller. Annie who travels with me is over 70 and is still going every week home and away and will be Hartlepool next Tuesday. Does she sit in the Itchen Jan? Same block as me? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladysaint Posted 19 November, 2009 Share Posted 19 November, 2009 No she sits behind me in the Northam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 19 November, 2009 Share Posted 19 November, 2009 (edited) Not sure where we got that attendance from. I am still in awe at this story. My Dad was not even born when this match took place. The club should invite old codger to be a guest. In the original post, it states that " he was too short to see and sat on his Dad's shoulders " so that would suggest perhaps under 6 ..? Old Codger also suggests that they missed a train - maybe there were weather / travel problems which might have kept the attendance down. As for the gate; 2,000...strange that it is such an precise number! Other games v. Burnley around that period got 7,000 and 10,000 when both teams were in the lower part of the table. I always thought such figures left a lot to be desired when it came to declaring the " exact " size of the gate. Quite often it was down to someone's "rough idea" and, of course there were a number of scams with the gatekeepers pocketing some of the take (I'd seen that at The DELL many years ago!) Edited 19 November, 2009 by david in sweden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW11_Saint Posted 19 November, 2009 Share Posted 19 November, 2009 Great post/story. Incredible that one of members was supporting Saints that far back - and great that you are still an active member of the forum OC!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilko Posted 19 November, 2009 Share Posted 19 November, 2009 Great stuff. I'd like to hear a lot more about the Old Codger's recollections of bygone away days. Could he write a blog, or something? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Landrew Posted 19 November, 2009 Share Posted 19 November, 2009 Excellent, if too short a read. Well done, Duncan for making that into a separate thread. And if you're reading this, Old Codger, let's have some more of your Saints recollections. Hopefully, you're a member so that you can pass a PM to me, and I can pass it along to the Admin. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fitzhugh Fella Posted 19 November, 2009 Author Share Posted 19 November, 2009 Excellent, if too short a read. Well done, Duncan for making that into a separate thread. And if you're reading this, Old Codger, let's have some more of your Saints recollections. Hopefully, you're a member so that you can pass a PM to me, and I can pass it along to the Admin. Cheers. Don't know if the OC has logged on over the last 48 hours but if he hasn't hope he does not miss this thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamster Posted 19 November, 2009 Share Posted 19 November, 2009 What a great story, Duncan. Looking back at an earlier Saints publication" A complete history of .. " The facts are correct: january 2 1932 we did indeed win 3-1 Crowd 2000 (!) Scorers: Sillet 2, Arnold. line up 2-3-5 (as was in those days.)¨ Scriven in goal, Adams.W - Keeping Shelley - Bradford - Luckett O'Grady -Jepson - Sillett.C - Wilson - Arnold A few names there that my late father used to quote; Scriven, Keeping, Luckett and Arnold. Remarkable link to our history. I just realised that 'Sillett. C' was the father of John Sillett who (after starting his carrer with saints) famously took Coventry to FA Cup triumph. John himself wasn't even born himself until four years after OC watched him plying his trade for us. Even watching the footage from 1987 makes ME feel old. Also agree with the other poster that maybe we should be the first club to introduce FREE season tickets for over 65's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draino76 Posted 19 November, 2009 Share Posted 19 November, 2009 I think he at least deserves to post more than 3 times a day; for free. (Nudge nudge, wink wink.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Landrew Posted 19 November, 2009 Share Posted 19 November, 2009 I think he at least deserves to post more than 3 times a day; for free. (Nudge nudge, wink wink.) Draino76, your point has not gone unnoticed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draino76 Posted 19 November, 2009 Share Posted 19 November, 2009 Well done that man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott_saints Posted 19 November, 2009 Share Posted 19 November, 2009 He should have a free season ticket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Fan CaM Posted 20 November, 2009 Share Posted 20 November, 2009 Great post and thread. Thank goodness we're all able to share in his recollections about the club we nearly lost just a few short months ago. Positive thinking is starting to become a little infectious being a Saint - let's hope the team is thinking like this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFM Posted 20 November, 2009 Share Posted 20 November, 2009 Oh just posted on the original thread saying what a pleasure it was to hear the recollections of old and young! Heart touching, inspiring and so interesting from the Old Codger. Old bugger must be 3 or 4 years older than my old man who can't make it to games for the last few seasons. Don't some people make you so proud to be a Saints fan :-)* (*Obviously I exclude myself from this category) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fitzhugh Fella Posted 20 November, 2009 Author Share Posted 20 November, 2009 What a great story, Duncan. Looking back at an earlier Saints publication" A complete history of .. " The facts are correct: january 2 1932 we did indeed win 3-1 Crowd 2000 (!) Scorers: Sillet 2, Arnold. line up 2-3-5 (as was in those days.)¨ Scriven in goal, Adams.W - Keeping Shelley - Bradford - Luckett O'Grady -Jepson - Sillett.C - Wilson - Arnold A few names there that my late father used to quote; Scriven, Keeping, Luckett and Arnold. I met Bert Scriven and Arthur Wilson. Bert had a farm near Marlow and Arthur lived up in Newcastle. When I went to visit him he gave me lots of photos and the like. Both sadly have now passed away but I keep in touch with relatives. Bert Shelley's son for instance lives in Liverpool and is always sending me stuff on his dad's career. Johnny Bradford's son too lives in So'ton as did Bill Lucket's wife. Talking of Charlie Sillett who was indeed the father of John - but he was also the father of Peter who played for Saints before being signed by Ted Drake (who was a friend of Charlie) for Chelsea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW11_Saint Posted 20 November, 2009 Share Posted 20 November, 2009 He should have a free season ticket. Agree, and transport to/from games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicestersaint Posted 20 November, 2009 Share Posted 20 November, 2009 Respect! :supz: :supz: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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