How to honour the great man

[georgeismyname]

I think we should rename the Stadium: "The Markus Liebherr St. Mary's Stadium" and also have a statue of the great man next to Ted's

[buctootim]

Seems to me he was a private, unassuming man. Maybe something very simple like leaving his seat in the directors box permanently empty would be the way to go.

[RobM]

Seems to me he was a private, unassuming man. Maybe something very simple like leaving his seat in the directors box permanently empty would be the way to go.

 

That's a really nice, subtle idea. I agree it should be something simple, but my vote would personally go to a stand being re-named. The trouble is, once you start that discussion you open it for all four stands and risk upsetting people whose suggestions aren't used.

[CB Fry]

Seems to me he was a private, unassuming man. Maybe something very simple like leaving his seat in the directors box permanently empty would be the way to go.

 

That's a nice idea.

[Whitey Grandad]

Can we petition for Britannia Road or Marine Parade to be renamed 'Markus Liebherr Way'?

[saint_bert]

I see that the club has mentioned a 'memorial service'. Is it a daft idea to suggest that this be held at the stadium?

 

I automaticly assumed it would be held at SMS

[dune]

Seems to me he was a private, unassuming man. Maybe something very simple like leaving his seat in the directors box permanently empty would be the way to go.

 

Or even just a paver in his memory with all the other fans pavers. He was one of us so I think that'd be fitting.

[sadoldgit]

Jesus, talk about re-writing history and (I think) changing your tune.

 

Sorry Alpine, I don't get what you are saying? Name me one club that has gone under. Of course someone would have bought us. But today of all days why bicker?

[qwertySFC]

1 idea, how about approaching the council and changing Britannia Road into Liebherr Road, that way every thing associated with the club would have his name attached as it is the official address of the company

[RedWillie]

1. Fill the ground for the next match

2. sing his appreciation all day

3. as already mentioned, a commuunity based fund / foundation is a great idea.

 

A statue is not appropriate as he had only just really come in the door.

 

RIP ML

[sadoldgit]

I think we need a significant period of reflection before the club makes any decision on this kind of long term tribute.

 

Let's get on with the immediate memoriums first at the next game and some kind of fomal ceremony after that.

 

For all we know his family may not want or think appropriate for a stand to be named after him or have a statue put up.

 

My personal preference would be for something a little more community focused - a Leibherr foundation supporting our city's budding young sportsmen, or inner city/disabled/disadantaged kids. I think Markus stood for legacy and would be good to see him remembered like that.

 

I'm not comfortable with him having the same standing as Ted Bates, purely because the time he spent with us is just not long enough. Ted Bates got the statue for many reasons, but one of them was simply sheer dedication and length of service which no one else is ever likely to replicate.

 

But this is all far to contentious to debate sensibly today.

 

For all of our differences in the past, I could not agree with you more on this.

[sadoldgit]

Pardew is quoted as saying the fans need to get rid of the negativity. Maybe the best way to honour him is to support the team 100% no matter what happens on the pitch and stop this carping, booing etc.

[TopGun]

I agree with this.

 

Quite happy to see a stand named after Markus but feel a trust for disadvantaged kids or similar would be a great idea.

[dubai_phil]

It really is way too early for any rational decision to be made, but I think it is right that as fans we should call for something.

 

IMHO the Stadium should remain as SMS. Changing a Stand name is a good idea but we didn't do it for Ted or other legends and it is a difficult call just now.

 

I believe that there must be a statue next to Ted.

 

One small but important re-naming that we could do in perpetuity is to simply rename Staplewood to The Liebherr Academy for Football or similar

[dubai_phil]

Pardew is quoted as saying the fans need to get rid of the negativity. Maybe the best way to honour him is to support the team 100% no matter what happens on the pitch and stop this carping, booing etc.

 

Not now SoG. Really not now

[Jackie@home]

I think he would appreciate it if we supported the team this season in the same way we always used to at the Dell, when we were usually the underdogs and realised that we had to fight for every point, and didn't start moaning after 20 minutes if we weren't winning. The thing he would want most would be for us to get promoted - let's appreciate the help he gave us and play our small part.

[alpine_saint]

Not now SoG. Really not now

 

Yep. I think the best way for the team to honour him is to go out and win promotion, but to use this as a cheap dig at an element of the fan base is beneath contempt.

[derry]

Personally I think the stadium should be named after him,because without him buying our club there is every chance there would be no Southampton fc

 

This is my preference. On reflection as he was such a private person it may be that his family would not want this, then again they might.

Edited 11 August, 2010 by derry

[saintoli]

Short term - Pack out SMS at the next home game, plenty of banners and colour (if thats your thing). 1 min silence followed by a noisey appreciation for our savior

Long term - Re-name the Itchen for a permanent reminder for our savior.

[DrZuess1979 the 2nd]

We`re the Leibherr, We`re leibherr, We`re the leibherr over errr

 

Like`s it

[dan17]

I wouldn't like the stadium named after him as I think St Marys is just too well known. Rename the Itchen Stand (where he always sat) "The Markus Liebherr Stand"

 

This

[dan17]

Seems to me he was a private, unassuming man. Maybe something very simple like leaving his seat in the directors box permanently empty would be the way to go.

 

Yeah like this idea too

[suewhistle]

1. Fill the ground for the next match

 

That's a good first idea.

 

I think CB Fry has summarised it well though.

[Block 5]

Let his family decide.

[alpine_saint]

Let his family decide.

 

I think they should give final approval, but its our club to recommend how we want to acknowledge what he did for us.

[Saint_clark]

I think renaming the stadium is the best idea.

[forever a red and white]

i don;t think there should be a statue, that should be reserved for ted. Re-name the stand and lets make sure we give the guy a celebration of live and the achievements he made possible by making a huge tribute at the Orient game.

[John McGrath's Jockstrap]

Agree with CB Fry that a period of reflection needed as emotions run high at such a sad time. For sure his impact on our club should never be underestimated despite the time he was at Saints. The Ted Bates era was different, but no less impactful, but we live in faster paced and financially oriented times now. Without Markus we would have no club....simple. Perhaps the most enduring legacy we should leave is renaming the Itchen or SMS once the promised land of PL football is reached. It's what he has left as his legacy and as a businessman he would like the focus to remain on the end objective.

[Block 5]

I think they should give final approval, but its our club to recommend how we want to acknowledge what he did for us.

 

It's their club. We are the club's supporters.

[alpine_saint]

It's their club. We are the club's supporters.

 

Yes, you are right. Congratulations.

 

You knew exactly what I meant - emotionally, not legally.

[hypochondriac]

It's their club. We are the club's supporters.

 

They are the custodians. It is our club.

[Saints foreva]

With all due respect to him, he was hardly in Ted's league. Who knows what might have happened under his ownership but he was only the owner for a season. It is also not true to say without him we would not be here. Someone would have bought us.

 

A memorial by all means and he will be sadly missed, but more for what might have been than what was.

 

RIP

 

It looked like he was the only person with serious money looking to buy Saints. I remember seeing an interview with Cortese and he said we were 48 hours from being gone for good before him and Markus sealed the deal.

[sainta claus]

Rename the stadium. No question. He is the 2nd founder of the club. We will always be the Saints, it would be proper to remind us all of our recent history by renaming the stadium after the saint who saved us!!

[Tartarus112]

I think Liebherr on the shirts for the next game is a good idea.

 

However naming stands after him doesn't seem to do him justice. I think a good idea would be a fan made banner like those at Liverpool and elsewhere with his picture on it. Perhaps with the JPT and any other trophies we win as a result of him surrounding.

 

It'd be something we could take to every game home and away and any wembley finals in the future. A sort of 'he's with us' tribute rather than something stationary and official.

[Under Weststand]

I think a Leibherr foundation would be an excellent Idea, also maybe as mentioned a bust of Marcus in reception or maybe a large portrait of the big man celebrating at Wembley. I'd also maybe go for the stand to be named after him. But as said that is all in the future & the family should be in agreement & comfortable with anything decided upon. He did appear to be an unassuming man, & maybe the family would feel uncomfortable with to big an issue making of him.

[Gordon Mockles]

He definitely deserves a fitting & permanent tribute. After all, the legacy he's started will continue for years...RIP kind fella! x

[JonnyLove]

I think that the two people to have the most influence over our 125 years history should both be standing proud at the front of the stadium so I am in favour of having Markus stood tall and proud with Ted.

[alpine_saint]

I think that the two people to have the most influence over our 125 years history should both be standing proud at the front of the stadium so I am in favour of having Markus stood tall and proud with Ted.

 

This.

[The Fat Controller]

The biggest tribute is to fill St Mary's for our next home game, and make it a sea of red and white!

[anothersaintinsouthsea]

I think Liebherr on the shirts for the next game is a good idea.

 

However naming stands after him doesn't seem to do him justice. I think a good idea would be a fan made banner like those at Liverpool and elsewhere with his picture on it. Perhaps with the JPT and any other trophies we win as a result of him surrounding.

 

It'd be something we could take to every game home and away and any wembley finals in the future. A sort of 'he's with us' tribute rather than something stationary and official.

 

Cracking idea, the club will sort something out but it would be great for the fans to do something of our own. Surely this website could collect donations via paypal and get enough to make something really impressive?

[Fowllyd]

This:

 

I think we need a significant period of reflection before the club makes any decision on this kind of long term tribute.

 

Let's get on with the immediate memoriums first at the next game and some kind of fomal ceremony after that.

 

For all we know his family may not want or think appropriate for a stand to be named after him or have a statue put up.

 

My personal preference would be for something a little more community focused - a Leibherr foundation supporting our city's budding young sportsmen, or inner city/disabled/disadantaged kids. I think Markus stood for legacy and would be good to see him remembered like that.

 

I'm not comfortable with him having the same standing as Ted Bates, purely because the time he spent with us is just not long enough. Ted Bates got the statue for many reasons, but one of them was simply sheer dedication and length of service which no one else is ever likely to replicate.

 

But this is all far to contentious to debate sensibly today.

 

This:

 

Seems to me he was a private, unassuming man. Maybe something very simple like leaving his seat in the directors box permanently empty would be the way to go.

 

This:

 

The biggest tribute is to fill St Mary's for our next home game, and make it a sea of red and white!

 

First and foremost, that last one. As CB rightly says, some time for reflection is needed before any permanent tributes should be made. But for an immediate, heartfelt tribute, let's fill that stadium and sing till we're hoarse.

[WIGANSAINT]

i think personally that renaming the stadium would be fitting.

After all,he is the one who kept us going.

[GeckoSaint]

Kits my thing; I'd go for the following:

 

[St Marco]

Whatever happens he needs a lasting tribute that can be seen by the generations to come. So they can understand how important he was to this club in terms of what he did. In our history we have had a lot of talkers talking the talk. A lot of people who have taken from the club as much as they can without giving much back. Markus was one of the very few who gave everything to the club and didn't ask for anything back. Acording to the guardians report he cleared the £30m debt around the club. He didn't have to do that, he had no real connection with the club. But he did it anyway and each and everyone of us has been effected in the best possible way by his actions. If it wasen't for him we would not have had a club. I don't think people realise how serious that was. He needs to be honoured and in my opinion there are two ways to do this. Name a stand after him and get promoted back to the PL. Every single player who puts on that shirt must now play out of their skin and every fan that sits in the stadium needs to back them.

[1976_Child]

I'm guessing that the last thing Marcus would want is the stadium named for him. I believe he was a Christian; our club has its roots in St Mary's Church - hence the stadium name - and so I can not imagine the Big Man smiling down at us going to games in a stadium named for him and supplanting the Blessed Virgin.

 

A stand, yes. But perhaps we should allow his family some time....

[Tac-tics]

Get our effing arses down to the next home tie and sing our hearts out!!!!!

[1976_Child]

Get our effing arses down to the next home tie and sing our hearts out!!!!!

 

yup, this.

[Frank's cousin]

Anything as long as its lasting, tasteful and supported by his family IMHO... not for me to determine what is 'fitting'.

 

But as a suggestion, I think he would have liked the idea of something that has a legacy for the club and community... eg The Liebherr Academy so similar.

 

No problem with anything be it Stadium, statue or stand, but it needs to be lasting - we should never forget, what he did for us.

[rooney]

His family should choose, but whatever they decide will be acceptable to all saints Fans.

[fareham saint phil]

Personally leave St Mary's as just that, remember when it was the friends provident SMS everyone called it SMS only even the press, so the roots are too deep there leave it as is. I like the idea of a bust in reception together with a large picture of him at wembley, so visitors will see and know who he is for years to come. If any part of the ground is re-named then it should be the Itchen. but that should be down to the family