Plastics Or Not?

[Turkish]

People that complain about the cost. I understand not everyone can afford or wants a season ticket. But take last February as an example. Man United at home in the cup, attendance 28k. That same day we would have had Charlton at home in the league if we'd lost in a previous round of the cup. We'd have had around 20k there for that one. Okay there were probably about 2-3000 more away fans but it meant that about 5000 extra "saints fans" found the money laying down the back of the sofa, so it wasnt a case of people not being able to afford to go on that day on the year. A ticket that was actually more expensive than a normal. One. So who were people there to watch?

[ericb]

If going to a Saints match is some sort of badge of being a Saints fan

 

Um fair play to you for (weirdly) choosing saints, but that really is the only point isn't it? Going to watch your team play is the whole point of supporting a side. Otherwise you might as well just cheer on a spreadsheet.

 

Not getting involved in the rest of this but that does seem a little off kilter way to think about it.

 

As an aside the hell anyone from Scandinavia would support saints is well beyond me! So how did it happen mush?

[Danish Saint]

I've just done some research and a rough calculation, if I was to watch Saints at St. Mary's. Comes out at £360 pr. game, drinks and food not included.

 

Includes tickets to plane, bus and match plus hotel room.

 

 

Sorry, but can't afford that every other weekend.

[krissyboy31]

People that complain about the cost. I understand not everyone can afford or wants a season ticket. But take last February as an example. Man United at home in the cup, attendance 28k. That same day we would have had Charlton at home in the league if we'd lost in a previous round of the cup. We'd have had around 20k there for that one. Okay there were probably about 2-3000 more away fans but it meant that about 5000 extra "saints fans" found the money laying down the back of the sofa, so it wasnt a case of people not being able to afford to go on that day on the year. A ticket that was actually more expensive than a normal. One. So who were people there to watch?

Some would have turned up just because it was Man U (even at those prices) but I dare say the majority wanted to see how this current team/squad shaped up against the English champions.

[shurlock]

People that complain about the cost. I understand not everyone can afford or wants a season ticket. But take last February as an example. Man United at home in the cup, attendance 28k. That same day we would have had Charlton at home in the league if we'd lost in a previous round of the cup. We'd have had around 20k there for that one. Okay there were probably about 2-3000 more away fans but it meant that about 5000 extra "saints fans" found the money laying down the back of the sofa, so it wasnt a case of people not being able to afford to go on that day on the year. A ticket that was actually more expensive than a normal. One. So who were people there to watch?

 

Totally agree. But would you include some fan who turned out last season for the Walsall game - that was about watching saints get promoted -and no disrespect to walsall or ollie lancashire, nothing to do with the oppo. Would they be plastics as you define it?

[dubai_phil]

Sorry, this argument is krap.

 

The Demogrpahics are simple the Saints catchment area contains around 4 million people.

 

A great many - like around 50% will be male.

 

Now anyone can do a google on what percent of the male populations like Football or watch football.

 

Inside that 2 million will be several hundred thousand males who have watched Saints on and off for as long as they have been able to find a way to get tickets.

 

They are NOT plastics, they are people like Buctoomin, me, EoA, even TDD who cannot get to every game.

 

they will be like my mate the Taxi driver who has to work a set number of Saturdays a year. He got his ST this tear even THOUGH he knew he'd only get to around 15 or 16 games.

 

Is he a Plastic because he could get to a Tuesday night game against WHU?

 

I posted on the poopey thread. Ex Village Cricket team mates who used to watch around 5 or 6 games a season - they cheered on Saints but applauded Thierry Henry - they weren't SAINTS fans but were FOOTBALL fans. They follow us they know as much about us poopey & the PL as any uber fan.

 

There ARE no Plastic Fans. That is a dream of the Stone Island Muppets in the Northam. I didn't see a single Plastic at Wembley for the JPT - I saw 55,000 SAINTS fans giving EVERYTHING to cheer us to Victory.

 

Respect to those lucky enough to go every week. Respect to the Club for having systems to try and ensure they can get tickets to Away games they want to go to.

 

But if they really are uber fans why do so many moan that they need tickets for Brizzle Away. Surely their ST's would get them one?

[dubai_phil]

oops 'puter troubles double post sorry

[Turkish]

Totally agree. But would you include some fan who turned out last season for the Walsall game - that was about watching saints get promoted -and no disrespect to walsall or ollie lancashire, nothing to do with the oppo. Would they be plastics as you define it?

 

Good point. I remember the Man U game because I remember a number of people who rarely if ever go asking me to get tickets or them and how excited they were about the Man U game. I dont remember any of that for the Wallsall game.

 

The way I would suggest who is a plastic and who isn't are the ones that turn out when times are bad. The 24,000 or so that turned out for the Burnley game when the club was on it's knees and needed every penny it could get. I don't recall too many people begging for tickets for that one or not being able to sleep due to excitement. It's easy to be a fan when times are good or when big clubs roll into town. Not so good when you are going expecting to lose. That's the Mark of a clubs real fan base.

[djharvey]

People that complain about the cost. I understand not everyone can afford or wants a season ticket. But take last February as an example. Man United at home in the cup, attendance 28k. That same day we would have had Charlton at home in the league if we'd lost in a previous round of the cup. We'd have had around 20k there for that one. Okay there were probably about 2-3000 more away fans but it meant that about 5000 extra "saints fans" found the money laying down the back of the sofa, so it wasnt a case of people not being able to afford to go on that day on the year. A ticket that was actually more expensive than a normal. One. So who were people there to watch?

 

All fans have a Budget & Schedule.

 

Some can afford the money and time to attend all games.

 

Some can afford the money but have no the time.

 

Some have the time but no money.

 

Some have a bit of time and a bit of money.

 

With a limited amount of time and money you are inevitably going to have to choose which games to attend, odds are you will chooose the most attractive, but you will still be there to watch your team!

[dubai_phil]

People that complain about the cost. I understand not everyone can afford or wants a season ticket. But take last February as an example. Man United at home in the cup, attendance 28k. That same day we would have had Charlton at home in the league if we'd lost in a previous round of the cup. We'd have had around 20k there for that one. Okay there were probably about 2-3000 more away fans but it meant that about 5000 extra "saints fans" found the money laying down the back of the sofa, so it wasnt a case of people not being able to afford to go on that day on the year. A ticket that was actually more expensive than a normal. One. So who were people there to watch?

 

Frankfurt - Southampton on Flybe 140 quid

 

Ticket (only one available) in Corporate 99 Quid

 

My son flew back for that to watch Saints against the Mancs. He could justify that cost but couldn't justify it for a Charlton game. He took in 3 games last year and has managed 2 so far this year when he could fit it around his work. When he added up the cost of those games it came to more than an ST. He's unlucky, his job took him to Germany, he'd far rather be an uber fan

[Turkish]

Frankfurt - Southampton on Flybe 140 quid

Ticket (only one available) in Corporate 99 Quid

My son flew back for that to watch Saints against the Mancs. He could justify that cost but couldn't justify it for a Charlton game. He took in 3 games last year and has managed 2 so far this year when he could fit it around his work. When he added up the cost of those games it came to more than an ST. He's unlucky, his job took him to Germany, he'd far rather be an uber fan

 

What was the difference? Match on the same day. Home team were the same? Why could he justify for Man Utd but not for someone else on the same day? Who was he coming to watching? You say saints but it would have been saints v Charlton as well, not justifiable to shell out for that one apparently.

[ericb]

What was the difference? Match on the same day. Home team were the same? Why could he justify for Man Utd but not for someone else on the same day? Who was he coming to watching? You say saints but it would have been saints v Charlton as well, not justifiable to shell out for that one apparently.

 

Don't forget that the Man U game meant nothing and Charlton was a ****ing huge game for us at the time.

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

It's rather amusing to see so many 'on their high horse' because they assume they are being criticized when they have perfectly valid and understandable reasons for not attending games very often - be it living far away, serving on a ship, or even just being plain broke for example. Only a fool would presume to criticize anybody who falls into that kind of category and this season ticket waving business is pure folly.

 

But lets face it we had 32k in St Marys when we were in the PL and around half that number disappeared pretty damn quick as soon as the glamour of top flight football had departed. I don't personally believe that all the missing 15k 'fans' suddenly emigrated, joined the navy, or lost their job back in May 2005. Now its a free(ish) country and people can spend their money as they will, if they didn't choose to stick by the club in its hour of need then that is their business. But are those who will only opt to return now that we being successful the moral equal of the fans who were there supporting this great club when we were bottom on L1 on minus 10 points ?

 

Well 'No' would be my answer.

[Turkish]

All fans have a Budget & Schedule.

 

Some can afford the money and time to attend all games.

 

Some can afford the money but have no the time.

 

Some have the time but no money.

 

Some have a bit of time and a bit of money.

 

With a limited amount of time and money you are inevitably going to have to choose which games to attend, odds are you will chooose the most attractive, but you will still be there to watch your team!

 

I quite agree. But for a saints fan is it more attractive to see them play a team of a similar standard and win in a promotion push or to see us battle gamely and lose against someone else full celebrity players? If I could only afford one game a year I which one I'd choose time and again, because as a saints fan I enjoy seeing Saints win, not try hard but lose.

[trousers]

I quite agree. But for a saints fan is it more attractive to see them play a team of a similar standard and win in a promotion push or to see us battle gamely and lose against someone else full celebrity players? If I could only afford one game a year I which one I'd choose time and again, because as a saints fan I enjoy seeing Saints win, not try hard but lose.

 

West Ham's "star" team gave us one of our toughest home games of the season. We won what was an entertaining yet tense game.

 

Given that I, and others, have to pick and choose the games we go to, I'd much rather watch a close game against one of the better teams than a 'stroll in the park' game against a weaker team.

 

The reverse applied when we were in the premier league - i.e. I preferred to watch Saints play the likes of Bolton and Stoke than games against Man Utd and Arsenal. It works both ways.

 

It's personal preference at the end of the day. Nothing more, nothing less.

[Turkish]

West Ham's "star" team gave us one of our toughest home games of the season. We won what was an entertaining yet tense game.

Given that I, and others, have to pick and choose the games we go to, I'd much rather watch a close game against one of the better teams than a 'stroll in the park' game against a weaker team.

The reverse applied when we were in the premier league - i.e. I preferred to watch Saints play the likes of Bolton and Stoke than games against Man Utd and Arsenal. It works both ways.

It's personal preference at the end of the day. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

west Ham was different, it was a top of the table clash, id expect a sell out.

 

People make all sorts of excuses. Money is an obvious one. Yet as pointed out, in February 5000 additional fan found the money, didn't have surprise birthday parties, work Commitments etc etc when Man U came to town on the same day as Charlton would have. I think the question who were they there to watch is quite valid in those circumstances.

[JRM]

It's rather amusing to see so many 'on their high horse' because they assume they are being criticized when they have perfectly valid and understandable reasons for not attending games very often - be it living far away, serving on a ship, or even just being plain broke for example. Only a fool would presume to criticize anybody who falls into that kind of category and this season ticket waving business is pure folly.

 

But lets face it we had 32k in St Marys when we were in the PL and around half that number disappeared pretty damn quick as soon as the glamour of top flight football had departed. I don't personally believe that all the missing 15k 'fans' suddenly emigrated, joined the navy, or lost their job back in May 2005. Now its a free(ish) country and people can spend their money as they will, if they didn't choose to stick by the club in its hour of need then that is their business. But are those who will only opt to return now that we being successful the moral equal of the fans who were there supporting this great club when we were bottom on L1 on minus 10 points ?

 

Well 'No' would be my answer.

 

spot on, so many people have mis-read and assumed they are considered plastic fans for not attending regularly when obviously that is not the point, it is those who simply chose to stop going in bad times and come back when things are good who don't warrant to be considered fans on the same scale as those who stuck it out in league one.

[trousers]

west Ham was different, it was a top of the table clash, id expect a sell out.

 

People make all sorts of excuses. Money is an obvious one. Yet as pointed out, in February 5000 additional fan found the money, didn't have surprise birthday parties, work Commitments etc etc when Man U came to town on the same day as Charlton would have. I think the question who were they there to watch is quite valid in those circumstances.

 

And I believe that personal choice is simply that....personal. Why should anyone have to justify what they do with their leisure time and why? It's only football.

[trousers]

spot on, so many people have mis-read and assumed they are considered plastic fans for not attending regularly when obviously that is not the point, it is those who simply chose to stop going in bad times and come back when things are good who don't warrant to be considered fans on the same scale as those who stuck it out in league one.

 

Welcome to human nature.

[The Kraken]

west Ham was different, it was a top of the table clash, id expect a sell out.

 

People make all sorts of excuses. Money is an obvious one. Yet as pointed out, in February 5000 additional fan found the money, didn't have surprise birthday parties, work Commitments etc etc when Man U came to town on the same day as Charlton would have. I think the question who were they there to watch is quite valid in those circumstances.

 

Of course you're right it's all about who the opposition is. It always was the case in the Premier League against the top sides, and it always will be in whichever division we find ourselves in. Not necessarily to all fans of course, but to what I'd consider the majority, of course it does.

[Sour Mash]

It's rather amusing to see so many 'on their high horse' because they assume they are being criticized when they have perfectly valid and understandable reasons for not attending games very often - be it living far away, serving on a ship, or even just being plain broke for example. Only a fool would presume to criticize anybody who falls into that kind of category and this season ticket waving business is pure folly.

 

But lets face it we had 32k in St Marys when we were in the PL and around half that number disappeared pretty damn quick as soon as the glamour of top flight football had departed. I don't personally believe that all the missing 15k 'fans' suddenly emigrated, joined the navy, or lost their job back in May 2005. Now its a free(ish) country and people can spend their money as they will, if they didn't choose to stick by the club in its hour of need then that is their business. But are those who will only opt to return now that we being successful the moral equal of the fans who were there supporting this great club when we were bottom on L1 on minus 10 points ?

 

Well 'No' would be my answer.

Best post on here and sums up my thoughts on the matter exactly.

[sandwichsaint]

Cards on the table - Saints born and bred but Hampshire exiled. 4th generation me, pretty much all my family on both sides are Saints fans, insisted on my 2 lads being bought up in the faith, and they've done me proud in this respect! My first game v Sheff Weds 1966-67, I've seen Saints here there and everywhere since then, home and away, rain or shine, come hell or high water!

 

Never had a season tkt (tho would love to!), financial circumstances/other commitments/geographical distance has always mitigated against it. I think my 'personal best' is the JPT season when I saw about 20 games home and away. I saw 15+ games last year and have seen 5 this year so far so hopefully will see somewhere between 15-20 for the remainder of the season.

 

I'm not an uber fan but I think I do my bit: I have three points in relation to this thread:

 

I hate it (Hate It!) when a big game comes up and it's first dibs to season-ticket-holders-plus-one !

WTF does this come from? Big game - ST holders can bring a friend/partner/hanger-on, over and above PAYG customers? Sorry, I don't get that.

 

This one I do get, but it's equally annoying! When it comes to a big game the tkt office wants to know how many HOME games you have been to. I understand that the club gets revenue from 'home' tickets and nothing from away tkts, but in what system does three home games trump six away games? For the allocation of Wembley tkts for one ...

 

Which brings me to my third gripe... I think 'local fans'/ST holders totally underestimate the size of our exiled/travelling/latent fan-base. A common truism on here is that 'everybody who wanted one got a tkt for the JPT final', I can tell you for a FACT this isn't true. That season my eldest and I had been to about 40 games home and away (and we got Wembey tkts, but it was very, very tight), my other nipper was away first year at uni and had only seen about three games that year (but up to 10 a year for the previous five year); he didn't get near a tkt. Mrs Sandwich had probably seen 4-5 games a year for the previous five years but she didn't get near a tkt ...... would people please not keep posting posting on here 'that everybody who wanted a tkt got one'. I could have used two more, and I'm sure that other people could too. They would certainly have been put to better use than the ones that I was sat with (top rows, directly behind the goal: people on mobile phones, people in jester hats, people going down early for a pie at HT, people that didn't know the names of any players ... I have to think I was in section for the players's families/SMS staff etc.???)

 

Finally a story for you. A young lad about 9 joined our local cricket club a couple of years ago and he regularly turned up to training in a Saints shirts, good lad! Got talking to the parents and the whole family mum/dad/nipper are massive Saints fans; never picked up the connection but they live 160 miles from SMS and are Saints through and through. They are not of massive financial means (in fact they are of modest means) and dad has had some cancer-related up and downs, which have led to them having some understandable family up and downs. Dad is now fully in remission and runs a local Sunday football team - these guys are absolute salt of the earth, honest as the day is long, family types. Nipper is 11 now and is absolutely Saints mad (he knows more about Saints than me!) ... he's been to SMS three times .... no lack of passion there .... just a lack of opportunity and of a lack financial wherewithal ... for this family, to travel 160 miles to a match, pay for tickets and all the rest of it is literally a once-a-year, high-days-and-holidays (birthday treats) event. It literally makes me cringe the thought that one day they might buy tkts in block 43 and be jeered at by fellow Saints 'fans' - if that's the choice I'm embarrassed on their behalf and I'd rather they went to watch Gillingham or Charlton!

 

Funny old game football.

Edited 10 November, 2011 by sandwichsaint
Typo on Saints!

[Turkish]

And I believe that personal choice is simply that....personal. Why should anyone have to justify what they do with their leisure time and why? It's only football.

 

People are quick to make excuses. Can't afford it, work, family birthdays and commitments etc etc. Yet none of these things mattered or were a factor last time we were in top flight or draw a big club in the Cup. Why? These people are Saints fans are they not? Who are they going to watch?

 

Not everyone can afford to go every week, I understand that. however, it never ceases to amuse me the excuses people willmake not to go, we had Christmas mentioned the other day when it was 2 months away FFS!! Yet none of these things are factors when "big games" come up.

 

As i say it's easy to be a fan when times are good. Not so easy when you need to win to stay up and are expecting to

lose or starting a season in the 3rd tier on minus 10 points.

[theyin]

I arrive back in the UK on May 13th, will I make it for the promo play off final and if so will I be plastic for making it to just one game this season or a hero for traveling 12K miles to the game.

 

Hopefully it won't matter as we'll have gone up champions.

[dubai_phil]

Another point.

 

As saints FANS and wanting us to move into the PL be competitive and challenge for places in the top 6, then we need bums on seats.

 

Who actually gives a flying fook about Plastic Fans? They are money in the bank and the more of them the better.

 

The uber fans still have their ST's (they wave them at those of us who can't make it every week. So what IS their gripe?) They get in every week and have their owm seats - they go to EVERY away game of course so they are always first out the hat at ballot time - WHAT IS THEIR PROBLEM? Is it that they just have to wait longer in the queue for a manky pie at HT?

 

Some people get to whatever game they can - hell, didn't see so many of the uber fans at the Torquay JPT game last year - some have to look at the schedule (like Trousers) and say I can get to 3 games a season, which one shall I watch?

 

BUT the point is that with our catchment area and with this style of football we really COULD be getting crowds of 40,000 plus IF we had the room and THAt would make us a Competitive Team.

 

TBH, perhaps the uberfans wanted us to stay broke, or want some kind of ubermoney giver in charge or even want the poopey model - all 9,000 of them.

 

I do NOT want to get promoted and then have another 5 or 10 years of "Great Escapes" (ie being krap) I want us to be successful, to pay OUR KIDS wages that keep them with us and to be at the level in the PL that MAKES then want to stay.

 

And unfortunately THAT needs money and THAT needs bums on seats every week. And THAT means Plastics & Prawn Sandwiches

[View From The Top]

It's rather amusing to see so many 'on their high horse' because they assume they are being criticized when they have perfectly valid and understandable reasons for not attending games very often - be it living far away, serving on a ship, or even just being plain broke for example. Only a fool would presume to criticize anybody who falls into that kind of category and this season ticket waving business is pure folly.

 

But lets face it we had 32k in St Marys when we were in the PL and around half that number disappeared pretty damn quick as soon as the glamour of top flight football had departed. I don't personally believe that all the missing 15k 'fans' suddenly emigrated, joined the navy, or lost their job back in May 2005. Now its a free(ish) country and people can spend their money as they will, if they didn't choose to stick by the club in its hour of need then that is their business. But are those who will only opt to return now that we being successful the moral equal of the fans who were there supporting this great club when we were bottom on L1 on minus 10 points ?

 

Well 'No' would be my answer.

 

Nailed.

[Minty]

Some good points and summaries since the OP. It is entirely a personal choice and the only person any of us have to justify our 'support' to, is ourselves, whatever the reason.

 

I think it's also worth pointing out that priorities change, as well as finances and time availability. Years ago I used to go to most, if not all, home Youth team and reserve team games (recall some great banter with opposing managers at Staplewood alongside Daren W and his brother/mum (RIP) and others), as well as all home first team games and a handful away depending on shifts. Nowadays I get to barely a couple of home games a season and that's it, because of a combination of time/money and because there are other things in my life which are more important to me now.

 

BUT - the key thing that remains is that no matter which division we are in, or how we are playing, if I DO get the time/money and can make a game because family commitments allow, then I will go irrespective of who we're playing and which division we're in. So in that respect, I do concur with Chapel End Charlie - my support is not dependent on division, opposition or league position.

 

But ultimately, each to their own and the more fans at games the better.

[trousers]

People are quick to make excuses. Can't afford it, work, family birthdays and commitments etc etc. Yet none of these things mattered or were a factor last time we were in top flight or draw a big club in the Cup. Why? These people are Saints fans are they not? Who are they going to watch?

 

Not everyone can afford to go every week, I understand that. however, it never ceases to amuse me the excuses people willmake not to go, we had Christmas mentioned the other day when it was 2 months away FFS!! Yet none of these things are factors when "big games" come up.

 

As i say it's easy to be a fan when times are good. Not so easy when you need to win to stay up and are expecting to

lose or starting a season in the 3rd tier on minus 10 points.

 

Why does the fact that human beings come up with 'fake' excuses not to go to watch a game of football appear to bother you so much?

 

That's what human beings do. They do what makes THEM happy but then feel that they need to justify their decisions to people such as yourself who somehow feel people need to have an 'approved' reason for doing what they do.

 

Ever thought that people might come up with these 'fake excuses' because people crave reasons in the first place?

 

It. Doesn't. Matter.

 

IMHO of course

[Minty]

Why does the fact that human beings come up with 'fake' excuses not to go to watch s game of football bother you so much?

It's probably a wider point not really for a football forum, but I do find it interesting that people do this... it doesn't bother me as such, I just find it intriguing that someone feels the need to do so.

 

IMO it is because of the fear of criticism from peers. I couldn't care less if someone thinks less of me for my reasons for not going, because I'm comfortable with them myself and I tend to think honesty is usually the best policy. But in this day and age peer pressure is a big deal.

[Turkish]

Why does the fact that human beings come up with 'fake' excuses not to go to watch a game of football appear to bother you so much?

That's what human beings do. They do what makes THEM happy but then feel that they need to justify their decisions to people such as yourself who somehow feel people need to have an 'approved' reason for doing what they do.

Ever thought that people might come up with these 'fake excuses' because people crave reasons in the first place?

It. Doesn't. Matter.

IMHO of course

 

It doesn't bother me. I find it amusing. One thing is for sure, If and when we get back up to top flight there will be a lot less people with birthdays, christenings, barmitzvahs and work commitments and a lot more people who can suddenly afford to go every week.

[trousers]

It doesn't bother me. I find it amusing.

 

Well that's a 'win win' then.

 

The people that make up these 'amusing' excuses are happy. And you're happy because you find it amusing.

 

One big happy family.

 

Praise the Lord.

[anothersaintinsouthsea]

I'm sure all of the winkers in the Northam who wave their season tickets would happily pay £500 for their season ticket if we somehow found ourselves in the Blue Square Premier League playing Mansfield, Forest Green Rovers and Ebbsfleet week in week out.

[Turkish]

I'm sure all of the winkers in the Northam who wave their season tickets would happily pay £500 for their season ticket if we somehow found ourselves in the Blue Square Premier League playing Mansfield, Forest Green Rovers and Ebbsfleet week in week out.

 

Anyone that waves their season ticket is a cock.

[Son of Bob]

I've been a Saints fan for 30 years and in that time there haven't been that many seasons where I've been in a position (personally or financially) to get a season ticket. When I've been able to I have and it's great to have the ritual of sitting in your own seat game in, game out but for some of us it's not a reality any more. I have a young daughter and a wife who works as a Retail Manager and is required to work alternate weekends. This means getting an ST now days would be a total waste of money as I wouldn't be able to get to half the games. As it is I manage about half our home games a season and 3 or 4 away days and if that makes me plastic, then I'm proud to be so.

 

The act of waving a season ticket at people who cannot attend every game is indicitive of the kind of knuckle dragging moron who doesn't have a clue about the real world in which some people live.

Edited 11 November, 2011 by Son of Bob

[doddisalegend]

Not sure what I am.

 

TBH when we were in the PL I went less than I do now, due to a combo of life factors, I was quite a casual supporter I suppose. Admin chanaged all that, the thought that I might not be able to go to see saints play any more gave me a bit of a shock. So the last three season's I've become a very regular vistor to SMS and a ST holder to boot (lower prices in league 1 helped as did having a footie mad son)

 

In hindsight I jumped on the bus early and will be able to sing "where were you when we were in league 1?" to other fans when we're back in the PL (joke)

Edited 11 November, 2011 by doddisalegend

[Minty]

Not sure what I am.

 

Just in case anyone else is wondering themselves, and to answer your own question:

 

You're a Saints fan. End of.

[Toadhall Saint]

I'm really not too sure why people are that bothered TBH. If you go to every game or if you only attend a handful your still a Saints fan and that is the key here.

[emerson massey]

Is it possible that people are Saints fans but Saints is not there no. 1 priority? It seems like it is being portrayed as black or white, 100% fan or not at all.

 

I have been supporting saints for many many years, and unfortunately only get to about 4 home games a season and 1-2 away games. Weekday games are out of the question due to work, and weekend games have to be planned well in advance due to having children. It also costs about £150 for each i attend.

 

So what me and my group of friends do is plan in advance when we are all free, and attend whatever game is that weekend, no matter the oppo.

 

We all have fun, sing as loud as the rest of the Northam, and 100% support our team. I would like to think this allows us to be acknowleged as saints supporters.

 

If i was still young, single and had nothing else to spend my money on (ie food and clothes for my family) i would probably be a season ticket holder there every week. However, i know for a fact i would never chastise someone else, or call them a 'plastic' (what a crap word to use) because they couldn't attend every game.

 

If it makes all you 100%, die hard, uber fans happy, i did not attend the Man U game as i was busy. However, i was at Wallsall as i was not. I did not attend the JPT final as i was busy. I did attend Orient away because i was not (which was a great day!).

 

I know this is a bit of a ramble, but i guess the point i am trying to make, albeit not very succinctly, is that while some people go every week and spend alot of money supporting our team (and great, good on them), others simply cant, because life gets in the way. However, we are all fans and do what we can within our own means.

[markyboy]

first game back in 85 in the super cup - a certain David Armstrong scored against Liverpool. Used to go to quite a few home and away when I was younger as had more money to burn, but go when I can - not often nowadays due to a wife and young child. Annoy the wife having saints player on the laptop for commentary. Never had a season ticket but respect those that get one each year, as I probably would if I lived in the area. Not blinkered by the "it's a big team so have to be there" just go when I can. I've probably let my heart rule my head in the past when it comes to buying a ticket or not for a game as my overdraft has shown.

People shouldn't wave their season tickets to the non regulars as having big crowds for the better games shows Cortese that the fan base is massive and with larger crowds in the EPL (come on lads you can do it) then we can look at expanding the stadium.

[Charlie Wayman]

These things tend to be self regulating. When I bought extra tickets for the Brighton game earlier in the week some guys in front of me were refused tickets because they were either STs or Members, in other words club restrictions were in place to try to be fair to real fans and that's how it should be.

 

Some friends of mine who are not supporters are just interested to come along to see the odd match to see what all the fuss is about. Nothing wrong with that as long as they are last in the queue as it helps swell the crowd and the coffers, it's only the same with theatre or shopping trips to London which you do once or twice per year but no more.

 

Resentfulness is unfortunately part and parcel of being a real fan, we can and do get jealous of our club through a rather misguided sense of 'esprit de corps', like a group of old comrades who've been through the trenches together - as indeed we Saints fans feel we have - with a subsequent resentment of those who turned up after the fighting was over to help share the spoils.

[Charlie Wayman]

that should have read "neither STs or Members".

[eurosaint]

I used to work on the principle of 'Live and let Live' but maybe next time I'm at SMS should I look around for some faces I don't recognise and find a way to abuse them ?

IMHO the word 'moronic' does not do justice to people who actually do think this way !

As there is no scale to assess Saints fanhood, I suggest that we all get on with life and be thankful that we have an interest which brings us pleasure !

[The Kraken]

that should have read "neither STs or Members".

 

We don't have a membership scheme down here at St. Mary's any more.

[Barry the Badger]

It doesn't bother me. I find it amusing. One thing is for sure, If and when we get back up to top flight there will be a lot less people with birthdays, christenings, barmitzvahs and work commitments and a lot more people who can suddenly afford to go every week.

 

The crux of your issue is that you can't understand why somebody would be more excited by Man Utd in the cup, than they would Charlton in the league. Fair enough if you disagree with that stance, but once you get your head around the fact that people DO find games like that more exciting, it really makes perfect sense.

 

You are massively oversimplifying the money argument too. When I was looking for cars, my girlfriend pointed at a Ford Focus at £10'000. "No, it's too expensive" was my reply, now it's not that I couldn't find the money if I needed to it's just that I made a decision that it wasn't worth stretching my finances for, it was too expensive for what it was. Now if we had walked around the corner and there had been a brand new Ferrari for £11'000 I would have been reaching for the cheque book.

 

To a lot of people, a match vs Yeovil in League 1 was a Ford Focus, and a match vs United in the cup was the Ferrari. I don't really understand why you cannot see the reasons for that.

[Avenue Saint]

In the end if the day, the more the merrier!

 

More people, more money.

 

Those that are less frequent, try n make it enjoyable then they may want to come back sooner and more often!

[Turkish]

The crux of your issue is that you can't understand why somebody would be more excited by Man Utd in the cup, than they would Charlton in the league. Fair enough if you disagree with that stance, but once you get your head around the fact that people DO find games like that more exciting, it really makes perfect sense.

 

You are massively oversimplifying the money argument too. When I was looking for cars, my girlfriend pointed at a Ford Focus at £10'000. "No, it's too expensive" was my reply, now it's not that I couldn't find the money if I needed to it's just that I made a decision that it wasn't worth stretching my finances for, it was too expensive for what it was. Now if we had walked around the corner and there had been a brand new Ferrari for £11'000 I would have been reaching for the cheque book.

 

To a lot of people, a match vs Yeovil in League 1 was a Ford Focus, and a match vs United in the cup was the Ferrari. I don't really understand why you cannot see the reasons for that.

 

What bizarre logic. You really cannot compare the two. Supporting a footabll team is nothing like choosing between a Ferrari and a Focus!!

 

People say they are Saints fans right? So they are going along to support Southamtpon football club right? So why does it matter who the opposition are? Why were "Saints fans" depserate for Man United tickets but not interested in going to see us play Charlton on the very same day at a cheaper price? It cant be financial reasons. It cant be family commitments. It cant be work reasons. Afterall they'd have those blockers regardless of who we were playing as the matches were due to be played on the very same day. Were they there to see Saints or Man United?

[SNSUN]

It's rather amusing to see so many 'on their high horse' because they assume they are being criticized when they have perfectly valid and understandable reasons for not attending games very often - be it living far away, serving on a ship, or even just being plain broke for example. Only a fool would presume to criticize anybody who falls into that kind of category and this season ticket waving business is pure folly.

 

But lets face it we had 32k in St Marys when we were in the PL and around half that number disappeared pretty damn quick as soon as the glamour of top flight football had departed. I don't personally believe that all the missing 15k 'fans' suddenly emigrated, joined the navy, or lost their job back in May 2005. Now its a free(ish) country and people can spend their money as they will, if they didn't choose to stick by the club in its hour of need then that is their business. But are those who will only opt to return now that we being successful the moral equal of the fans who were there supporting this great club when we were bottom on L1 on minus 10 points ?

 

Well 'No' would be my answer.

 

On the flip side, I only started going to games when we had sunk into League One. Granted, I had mild agoraphobia and the big crowds unnerved me in previous seasons, and I had been top one or two games before away, but I enjoyed my time down in the third tier, and I will enjoy myself now (thankfully agoraphobia free, what was I thinking...) as we are on the up.

 

Glory supporters are with every club, but really, if people really wanted to glory support, they'd be Man Utd fans already. More fans = more money to the club, and that's fine with me. I hope we do get back to the Premiership and restore this club to where it belongs, making it even more appealing for new generations of fans.

[ericofarabia]

What bizarre logic. You really cannot compare the two. Supporting a footabll team is nothing like choosing between a Ferrari and a Focus!!

 

?

 

Damn ... I own a Ford Focus and was hoping that it was my passport to Uberfandom.

 

I didn't go to see The Man Yoo game ..... so I could still be in with a shout though

[JRM]

let's be honest, there is nothing more annoying than someone who bangs on about being a "massive" fan and then hardly ever goes to games (when they could afford to)

i know loads of people like that, my boss is a chelsea fan, goes on about his family think he is "chelsea mad" but he has a chelsea mug FFS, doubt he even knows how to get to stamford bridge, people like that are "plastic fans"

 

saints have very few of those

[Turkish]

let's be honest, there is nothing more annoying than someone who bangs on about being a "massive" fan and then hardly ever goes to games (when they could afford to)

i know loads of people like that, my boss is a chelsea fan, goes on about his family think he is "chelsea mad" but he has a chelsea mug FFS, doubt he even knows how to get to stamford bridge, people like that are "plastic fans"

 

saints have very few of those

 

We've got a couple of those. A "Man United fanatic" who has been to Old Trafford twice and support consists of watching games on Sky and owning a replica shirt.

 

Now that is one thing that irritates me, getting into work monday morning and the "banter" between fans of big London and northern club who never go but may have seen the highlights on goals on sunday. All the talk of "we" this and "we" that. FFS.