johnnyboy Posted 13 July, 2011 Share Posted 13 July, 2011 Hi , living up here , I was trying to describe the delights of the Dell and more specifically the glorious chocolate boxes where my dad would send me with my pals while he sat in the splendour of the upper East stand ( 2nd row from the front ! ) , so I did a google image search for said choccy boxes but failed to find any , so my plea to you is , if you have any images of the place where I spent my youth many moons ago , could you , please put them here so I can bask in my former glories . Thanks for any help given Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Le God Posted 13 July, 2011 Share Posted 13 July, 2011 (edited) Edited 13 July, 2011 by Matthew Le God Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyboy Posted 13 July, 2011 Author Share Posted 13 July, 2011 Cheers MLG that 2nd one is ideal , the 1st one is good but the last one doesn't really do them justice , are they from your own picture or are they online somewhere , thanks for the quick reply much appreciated . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Le God Posted 13 July, 2011 Share Posted 13 July, 2011 I just found them on Google images on the first 3 pages of searching for "The Dell Southampton". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintmatt Posted 13 July, 2011 Share Posted 13 July, 2011 Please tell me you didn't search "Chocolate Box" johnnyboy lol! These were just before my time I think, nice seeing some old pictures of the great place though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Le God Posted 13 July, 2011 Share Posted 13 July, 2011 Please tell me you didn't search "Chocolate Box" johnnyboy lol! That search will have very different results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyboy Posted 13 July, 2011 Author Share Posted 13 July, 2011 lol , thats probably where I was going wrong, I tried southampton football club chocolate boxes ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Le God Posted 13 July, 2011 Share Posted 13 July, 2011 The second image I used doesn't look quite so romantic when you see the "chocolate boxes" up close. In fact they look quite dangerous and ugly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tokyo-Saint Posted 13 July, 2011 Share Posted 13 July, 2011 The second image I used doesn't look quite so romantic when you see the "chocolate boxes" up close. In fact they look quite dangerous and ugly! Sounds like my ex girlfriend! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southbourne saint Posted 13 July, 2011 Share Posted 13 July, 2011 I'm sure I remember them called "the ashtrays" does anybody else remember this or am I just going senile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted 13 July, 2011 Share Posted 13 July, 2011 I think one of the boxes was for boys only and around 1963 to 1965 my brother tried to be the first one in the box sometimes he succeeded. I stood in the one nearer to the West Stand for a number of seasons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjii Posted 13 July, 2011 Share Posted 13 July, 2011 The Milton must be an all time classic football end. Whatever era, it always looked like it was designed by a mad person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 13 July, 2011 Share Posted 13 July, 2011 I think one of the boxes was for boys only and around 1963 to 1965 my brother tried to be the first one in the box sometimes he succeeded. Correct. I often used it as a nipper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krissyboy31 Posted 13 July, 2011 Share Posted 13 July, 2011 Correct. I often used it as a nipper. Me too. Great view from there. A bonus when you were only about 3'6" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chez Posted 13 July, 2011 Share Posted 13 July, 2011 The Milton must be an all time classic football end. Whatever era, it always looked like it was designed by a mad person. can I ask was the Milton end ever an away end perhaps long before I was born? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miffy Posted 13 July, 2011 Share Posted 13 July, 2011 I saw my first game from the choccy box directly behind the goal, stood on a little home made stool. If i remember correctly it was home to Blackpool, last game of the 1975/76 season just before the FA Cup final. Happy Days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonManager Posted 13 July, 2011 Share Posted 13 July, 2011 My memory is that if you weren't right at the front you couldn't see the goal. I was a bit short then though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom8558 Posted 13 July, 2011 Share Posted 13 July, 2011 The latest issue of When Saturday Comes has an article describing trips to away ends of grounds. The writer recounts a trip to the Dell and standing in the Milton Road end as an away supporter, with the family centre in the chocolate boxes above him. I don't ever remember the Milton Road end being segregated for away supporters. I think that he must have blagged his way into the original location of the Family Centre, which was the right hand side of that end. All I remember of the original Milton Road end was that you couldn't see very well when it was packed, but that the rebuild of the early 80s was a huge improvement and made it a great place to watch Saints. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chez Posted 13 July, 2011 Share Posted 13 July, 2011 The latest issue of When Saturday Comes has an article describing trips to away ends of grounds. The writer recounts a trip to the Dell and standing in the Milton Road end as an away supporter, with the family centre in the chocolate boxes above him. I don't ever remember the Milton Road end being segregated for away supporters. I think that he must have blagged his way into the original location of the Family Centre, which was the right hand side of that end. All I remember of the original Milton Road end was that you couldn't see very well when it was packed, but that the rebuild of the early 80s was a huge improvement and made it a great place to watch Saints. that article was the reason for my question about the Milton ever being an away end. The writer suggests it is an away end. Of all the away ends he could talk about he chooses a home end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redondo Saint Posted 13 July, 2011 Share Posted 13 July, 2011 On the 3rd photo' what are the buildings just outside/adjacent the East stand? It looks like it is attached to the ground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfcuk fan Posted 13 July, 2011 Share Posted 13 July, 2011 Oh to have a time machine and go back to the 70's and watch just one more match at the Dell ! . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthportSaint Posted 13 July, 2011 Share Posted 13 July, 2011 Agree that the Milton Road, under the chocolate boxes, was never allocated to away supporters in my memory. Regarding not getting a good view. As a young lad in the 1960s my experience was of a very limited view wherever I stood in the ground, unless I was in the queue when the gates opened and got a place right at the front by the wall. Being in a chocolate box was no advantage if you weren't at the front or really tall. Another restricted view, even as an adult, would be standing under the East or West stand towards the back of the terrace. Because of the overhanging stand above, you lost sight of the ball when it went over to the far touchline or whenever it was kicked above head height. Add in the pillars and the tall bloke stood in front of you and probably 50% of the game was out of view! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redondo Saint Posted 13 July, 2011 Share Posted 13 July, 2011 http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/southampton/fb_news.php?storyid=2111 Nice picture circa 1974 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redondo Saint Posted 13 July, 2011 Share Posted 13 July, 2011 Another good memory! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocco boxo Posted 14 July, 2011 Share Posted 14 July, 2011 I can remember sometimes (twice) if away fans arrived late or were in large numbers the Police would put them in the Milton ? right to the side by the players entrance. The two times I have vivid memories of this were Wrexham FA CUP 1975? Smallman knocked us out and a couple of years later West Ham with a large Police presence being in there. The boxes were Father and son, 12-16 only no adults and one for every one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghq Posted 14 July, 2011 Share Posted 14 July, 2011 Agree that the Milton Road, under the chocolate boxes, was never allocated to away supporters in my memory. Regarding not getting a good view. As a young lad in the 1960s my experience was of a very limited view wherever I stood in the ground, unless I was in the queue when the gates opened and got a place right at the front by the wall. Being in a chocolate box was no advantage if you weren't at the front or really tall. Another restricted view, even as an adult, would be standing under the East or West stand towards the back of the terrace. Because of the overhanging stand above, you lost sight of the ball when it went over to the far touchline or whenever it was kicked above head height. Add in the pillars and the tall bloke stood in front of you and probably 50% of the game was out of view![/quote[/i] I can agree with pretty much all of that, as I was a regular in the Milton Rd end as soon as I was allowed to attend unsupervised. This dated back to the early 50's and I don't think in those days there was any segregation of fans. Later watched from under the east stand an then from the Archers. From 63 onwards it was during fleeting visits home and just got in where I could. Have to say I much prefer St Mary's, but the atmosphere of the Dell will never be seen again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THINWHITEDUKE Posted 14 July, 2011 Share Posted 14 July, 2011 http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/southampton/fb_news.php?storyid=2111 Nice picture circa 1974[/quote This pic is the Manure "invasion" of the Milton in 1974, not a Saints fan in sight,"we" ended up under the east stand IIRC, the shame of it, run out of our own end!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EastleighSoulBoy Posted 14 July, 2011 Share Posted 14 July, 2011 During the 70's it was any 'away' club's fans ambitions to outsing the home fans. This could, depending on the visiting team's fans, include 'taking' the away end. The Milton fell into this category sometimes and while there was no segregation the police were sorely tested at times. There were several visits by ManYoo, a couple from Chelsea, a memorable one from the skates (74 I think) and we even had Millwall in there for an Everton game after Millwall had endured a torrid time, the previous (F.A. Cup) weekend up at Goodison Park. The season we were first relegated I recall turning up at the Milton for the Manyoo game only for the Police to turn us away as the Milton was full. We ended up in the East Stand, near the players entrance. Our arrival was met with aggression because the utd fans were almost everywhere for that game. Cue a pitch invasion from the utd fans who swarmed off the Milton to try and help their colleagues under the East Stand. Police dogs and handlers did finally clear the pitch. It was around about then that us Eastleigh lads decided that the Archers was a better place for us. After all, it did save us the bother of the walk that way after the game. Those chocolate boxes were a strange affair and, as previously mentioned, were not all that good for viewing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gogo_saint Posted 14 July, 2011 Share Posted 14 July, 2011 not entirely sure if this is one of the chocolate boxes, but some great pics here of the dell, amongst others. http://www.homesoffootball.co.uk/collection/search/southampton/1/937/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cestrian Saint Posted 14 July, 2011 Share Posted 14 July, 2011 Anyone got a some decent pictures of the Milton Road end after the Choc boxes were replaced with the 2 tier terrace? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chez Posted 14 July, 2011 Share Posted 14 July, 2011 (edited) not entirely sure if this is one of the chocolate boxes, but some great pics here of the dell, amongst others. http://www.homesoffootball.co.uk/collection/search/southampton/1/937/ that picture shows the family centre after the chocolate boxes were knocked down and the new second tier part of the Milton had been built. All these pictures just make me wish we had stayed at the Dell. http://www.homesoffootball.co.uk/collection/search/southampton/1/934/ this one shows the same stand but viewing from the other side. Brilliant view from up there. My Dad used to take me to games in there during the mid 80s and would often embaress me by bellowing out orders to get stuck or such like, always during a quiet period, so everyone would turn, stare and chuckle. Fond memories. Edited 14 July, 2011 by Chez Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toomer Posted 14 July, 2011 Share Posted 14 July, 2011 Hi , living up here , I was trying to describe the delights of the Dell and more specifically the glorious chocolate boxes where my dad would send me with my pals while he sat in the splendour of the upper East stand ( 2nd row from the front ! ) , so I did a google image search for said choccy boxes but failed to find any , so my plea to you is , if you have any images of the place where I spent my youth many moons ago , could you , please put them here so I can bask in my former glories . Thanks for any help given This Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now