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Your 2011 Football Memories


Crazy Diamond

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It's a trending topic on Twitter right now, quite a popular one too. Here's a few of mine...

 

- On the pitch after the Walsall game, we'd gone up, they'd stayed up. We even chanted 'You, are, staying up, say you are staying up!'

- All those Bompey fans who had it in for us, we beat them at their place and haven't heard a word since.

- Fonte scores the winner at Brighton, leaps over the advertising hoarding, shirt removed, fans surround him.

- Brighton with the banners and music taunting Nigel. We won, not a word has been said since.

- Forte scores twice, Barnard adds a third and we beat the Franchise. The season was lost and got back in that game.

- Eddie Mitchell tells Bompey fans to support us if they don't like things at Dean Court. A woman who loves the sound of her own voice protests in fury.

- We sell Oxlade-Chamberlain and wonder how on earth we got so much money for him.

- Scaring my parents to death at Sunday lunch as Rickie scores against *them*. House still echoes 'F*CKING HAVE THAT!'

- First hearing 'We're coming for you...'.

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Chaplow smashing that goal in against Man Utd.

 

FT at Plymouth, knowing we'd done it. Seeing the pictures after the game of the players celebrating promotion.

 

Before the Leeds game at the start of this season. Big crowd, live on TV and we were back playing at a decent standard once again.

 

After the Leeds game, realising that we've just ripped one of the so called 'better'' teams to shreds.....and all of a sudden our expectations change.

 

Rickie Lambert scoring his first ever championship goal at Ipswich. He'd waited so long for it and I think a few fans were still anxious as to weather he could make the step up. - Well he could!

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Manure

 

Plymouth was memorable, to start with the idiots at Home Park had double booked our tickets so we thought we were gunna be kicked out, only to be moved to the bottom row behind the goal, which ended up being a good seat, you can see me on TV!

 

Leeds was good, was working all day and got in about midnight after avoiding the score, woke up half the house when watching it!

 

LOADS more but can't think of it

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In roughly chronological order:

 

- Knocking Blackpool out of the cup, Holloways rant, then drawing Utd again a day or 2 later.

- Skiing in the Alps in January, I asked the receptionist if he could find out the Saints score. We'd just won 6-0 at Oldham. I had to check the screen because I didn't believe him.

- A couple of days later I asked the same receptionist for the score. 0-0 at home to Notts Co. Boring in itself, but I didn't know at the time we'd win every home league game for the next 11 months.

- Playing Utd in the cup. First time I'd been to a game against a properly big side. Chaplow scored a thunderbolt just before break and I went mental.

- Going 2-0 down at home to Franchise and going balistic when Forte equalised. Then I knew it was only a matter of time for the winner.

- Going to work 1-0 down at Brighton. Getting there, checking my phone and we'd won in the 89th minute. Loved all the youtube clips I saw when I got home.

- My alarm clock waking me up on May 2nd to tell me Bin Laden had been killed. 10 hours later I watched Saints win 3-1 at Plymouth on SSN to gain promotion. That was a good day.

- A week later going to Southampton without a ticket for the sold out party at home to Walsall, only for my selfless Grandparents to lend me theirs.

- Singing "The Saints are going up" against Walsall and going 3-1 up. With seconds left, the Kingsland lino right in front of me sprinted accross the pitch towards the tunnel. Followed by the whistle, 10,000 Saints fans and myself.

- Seeing that AOC had been sold, then seeing the number "£15,000,000" and laughing my Arsenal off.

- Beating Leeds convincingly in the opening game of the season. First opening day since the 90s.

- Going to Fratton Park on the bus and the riotous chanting and shouting at the Skates.

- Lambert's goal right in front of me.

- Going top of the table and not giving it up for the rest of 2011 (baring an absolute d*cking against Bristol on Friday)

 

That's about it really. Such an uneventful year. :)

Edited by Lighthouse
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Going to Oldham on a cold tuesday night and seeing us absolutely run riot.

 

Lambert's free kick at Bournemouth, we have risen and they have sunk ever since that day.

 

Winning with those 2 late goals at Brighton and rubbing Poyet's nose in it a bit more.

 

The whole day out at Orient, weather was fantastic and so was the result.

 

When it was finally clinched at Plymouth, what an atmosphere.

 

Absolutely mauling Leeds.

 

Lambert's goal at the ****hole.

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When we played Utd it was the 1st time my nipper had seen us play against a top club and he cried tears of pure joy when we scored and I felt 10,000ft tall with pride in him.

 

MKD. Made our season.

 

Orient. Fantastic day out

 

Plymouth. Made all the hard L1 miles worth it and I'm glad I was there to share it with my nipper.

 

Lambert scoring against the skate bastards. My nipper and I went nuts and he ended the year as it started, crying tears of joy.

 

Saints have been fantastic, but sharing Saints with my nipper has been magical.

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Watching the Man Utd game at a wedding reception in yorkshire and getting complimentary words from all the guests for our performance, much to the chagrin of the few plastics in attendance.

 

Seeing us at Walsall away and believing it just may not be this year...

 

Jonno Forte against the McDons, and realising it actually just might be!

 

The late winner against Brighton, leading me to run screaming through the streets of Hereford in delight.

 

Walsall at home, just total joy.

 

Leeds at home, already mentioned of course.... I don't think any of us expected that totally joyful re-introduction to the second tier.

 

The subsequent home games v Brum, Boro, Wham, Watford etc.

 

Coventry away, bragging rights over my neighbours at last!!!

 

Seeing us destroy Brighton while abroad on an obscure Italian cable channel.... and getting bought drinks by the impressed locals.

 

Blackpool at home, just loved the come-back and the banter in town afterwards. The result went against us but for the rest of the day, the atmosphere was perfect.

 

Rickie vs the Skates and the atmosphere in 'The Eclipse' in Winchester during that. Two skates showed up before the start.... and promptly left when they saw it full to the brim of Saints.

Edited by Colinjb
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Going to Oldham on a cold tuesday night and seeing us absolutely run riot.

 

Lambert's free kick at Bournemouth, we have risen and they have sunk ever since that day.

 

Winning with those 2 late goals at Brighton and rubbing Poyet's nose in it a bit more.

 

The whole day out at Orient, weather was fantastic and so was the result.

 

When it was finally clinched at Plymouth, what an atmosphere.

 

Absolutely mauling Leeds.

 

Lambert's goal at the ****hole.

 

These + MK and United.

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OK, first two from 2010.

 

Wondering what on earth was going on when Pardew left. :uhoh:

 

Asking "who?" when NA was announced (so glad to be proved 'wrong') :blush:

 

Thinking that was it before Jonno got his brace against MK franchise. :?

 

Putting up a decent show against the Mancs in the Cup.

 

Managing to handle growing expectations.

 

Nerves increasing throughout the year before each game, not wanting to expect too much. :rolleyes:

 

My son's first away day at Orient, with my mate and his son over from Ghana, beer in the garden of the Birkbeck, burned the top of my head in that sun. Then beer aplenty, chatting with an O's fan at Waterloo, thinking that maybe we had done it. :smug:

 

Beating BHA and getting very confident. ;)

 

Finally Walsall to see the season off with a friendly pitch invasion.

 

This season being considerably better than I had anticipated and still worrying that the wheels will come off the bus!

 

Most importantly, meeting and making friends with the Saints fans who sit around us, seeing new faces and some from way back. Seeing my Son running the whole gamut of emotions and enjoying every minute with him.

 

It's still effin' great to be a Saint!

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Champlow's goal against United was amazing, SCREAMING CHAPLOW!!!!! at a bundle of Irish united fans who a. went WHO?!?! then b. WHAT 1-0?!?!?!?! and singing premier league your having a laugh for the rest of the game :) (despite the result we did anything but disgrace our selves that day).

 

Blackpool in the 3rd round was amazing, getting word of Holloway's words on the way home was just funny...

 

The Walsall at home result was too good.

 

Last weekend chanting we're waiting for you made me smile as going to Fratton was a fun day out even if the ground was terrible.

 

Watching any number of "amazing" champ teams, Brum, Borough, Blackpool, Leeds, even Palace and just not getting why they are touted to go up as they really haven't been good.

 

Ipswich away as a whole game was amazing, took some convincing to go but was just the best game of the season! Can not get over Morgan's ball to Lallana for the 4th and screaming HOW GOOD WAS THAT before it even went in.

 

Final best moment signing Jos on a permanent deal as it was the type of deal you could see getting stalled with Celtic being greedy, Saints being hard nosed, agents getting in the way, but a large amount of relief that he's a saint and the upwards trend can only be continued :)

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Bompey Away has to get a mention from me. Outside inferno having a few pints with all the Bompey fans giving it the football factory treatment, laughing at them and then seeing the venomous verbal assault aimed at us was just special. I didn't realise they actually f*****g hated us. Anyhow, getting into the ground and non stop bellowing "WE ARE SOUTHAMPTON, WE DON'T CARE ABOUT YOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUU!" was a damn good laugh, and an all round great day out.MK Dons at home I will never, ever forget. To go from that gut wrenching feeling that I was watching us throw away such a great season, listening to the Franchise fans singing about going to Wembley, I was hurting. Then Bang, Bang, Bang and all of a sudden my worries of promotion were gone, I knew we were gonna make it then. What a great day!Plymouth Away, waking up At the crack of dawn, grabbing a beer from the fridge, sparking up a roll up and putting the radio on (6 o'clock news), "Leader of Al-Queida, Osama Bin Laden has been killed." then having an entire day on the razz down in Plymouth and watching us (effectively) seal promotion. Made even better when I got home, plugged my dead phone in to receive about 30 texts to inform me I was on the telly. I had no recollection of talking to a camera and was in a right state, the image I had in my head of me on the box was not a good one.Leeds was great, to have literally no expectations as I really didn't know what to expect, then to watch us go and díck a club who 1) I don't like and 2) were well thought of in the division.Skates away, the whole buzz around SMS on arriving for the bubble. The buses setting off, watching the fuzz close every road as we gently rolled on by, then watching Lambo nod the ball into the net and finding myself in the middle of the most insane celebrations I have ever experienced. Nothing would come out of my mouth I was going so f*****g mental! I found myself arm in arm with an older fella, both jimping around and going bloodh bonkers, only for him to (mid celebration) inform me that he had just had an operation and that he still had many stitches in. Another moment I won't ever forget.Plenty more... But the kids have finally settled. Night Night.

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Bompey Away has to get a mention from me. Outside inferno having a few pints with all the Bompey fans giving it the football factory treatment, laughing at them and then seeing the venomous verbal assault aimed at us was just special. I didn't realise they actually f*****g hated us. Anyhow, getting into the ground and non stop bellowing "WE ARE SOUTHAMPTON, WE DON'T CARE ABOUT YOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUU!" was a damn good laugh, and an all round great day out.MK Dons at home I will never, ever forget. To go from that gut wrenching feeling that I was watching us throw away such a great season, listening to the Franchise fans singing about going to Wembley, I was hurting. Then Bang, Bang, Bang and all of a sudden my worries of promotion were gone, I knew we were gonna make it then. What a great day!Plymouth Away, waking up At the crack of dawn, grabbing a beer from the fridge, sparking up a roll up and putting the radio on (6 o'clock news), "Leader of Al-Queida, Osama Bin Laden has been killed." then having an entire day on the razz down in Plymouth and watching us (effectively) seal promotion. Made even better when I got home, plugged my dead phone in to receive about 30 texts to inform me I was on the telly. I had no recollection of talking to a camera and was in a right state, the image I had in my head of me on the box was not a good one.Leeds was great, to have literally no expectations as I really didn't know what to expect, then to watch us go and díck a club who 1) I don't like and 2) were well thought of in the division.Skates away, the whole buzz around SMS on arriving for the bubble. The buses setting off, watching the fuzz close every road as we gently rolled on by, then watching Lambo nod the ball into the net and finding myself in the middle of the most insane celebrations I have ever experienced. Nothing would come out of my mouth I was going so f*****g mental! I found myself arm in arm with an older fella, both jimping around and going bloodh bonkers, only for him to (mid celebration) inform me that he had just had an operation and that he still had many stitches in. Another moment I won't ever forget.Plenty more... But the kids have finally settled. Night Night.

 

Used to work there! Great post Mr.Scott

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When the mighty saints took the lead against Man U in the cup, I was watching it in a bar in Sydney. KO off 4am if I remember correctly!

 

Winning 13 of the last 15 league fixtures of the 10/11 season to secure promotion.

 

The opening fixture against Leeds; I realised how good we really are.

 

On an unusually hot Saturday in October we beat Watford with ease!

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Looking back at these posts brings back so many happy memories too. Walsall....Leeds....West Ham was good, too. Seeing the stadium almost full again...

 

The only comment I would make is this. Well done to all the Saints fans who never gave up during the dark days. Days like these are all the sweeter as we know what we have all been through to get here.

 

I am chuffed for my son who once went a whole year without seeing a Saints win at home, he missed the one league victory...and saw a few away defeats too.

 

Who knows whether we will beat these times, I reckon in the Prem we might.

 

Anyway a Happy New Year to you all, including Dune and Alpine :)

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Walking from the car to Dagenham's ground with my 10 year old son and my Dagenham supporting friend.

 

We turn the corner into the cul-de-sac where the somewhat ramshackle ground is situated at the end. My son takes one look and innocently says "Is that it?"

 

My friend looked at me, I looked at him. At that moment it hit home how far we had fallen and how much it meant to get out of that micky mouse league!

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Walking from the car to Dagenham's ground with my 10 year old son and my Dagenham supporting friend.

 

We turn the corner into the cul-de-sac where the somewhat ramshackle ground is situated at the end. My son takes one look and innocently says "Is that it?"

 

My friend looked at me, I looked at him. At that moment it hit home how far we had fallen and how much it meant to get out of that micky mouse league!

 

I remember going to watch Margate play there about a decade ago in the Conference. Football really is an amazing thing.

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Being one of about 500 to witness Oldham away in January - Oldham Athletic 0 - 6 Southampton. I was pinching my self when the 4th went in, and the 5th, and the 6th.

 

Leeds on the opening day was brilliant, seeing a Saints side move the ball around like that, all the while making Leeds United look totally stupid - biggest goal celebrations of the season so far for me, becuase I just didn't know what to expect!

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The smell of the grass on the pitch at SMS after the last game of last season. Forever more, that is what promotion will smell like to me.

 

Being top of the league, having just been promoted, for most of the season.

 

For breaking more records than Robert Wadlow.

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Brighton away is obviously another one.

 

I didn't go to it, and was sat watching Sky Sports News when Jeff Stelling says about a big goal in League One only for it to have been Brighton who got the opening goal right on half time. Second half I decided to switch on the radio and stop watching Sky Sports, honestly thought it wasn't going to be our day, Guly forced their goalkeeper into a great save, Lambert hit the post and a few other chances not going our way only for Connolly to get us level. I was well happy at that point and was hoping we would see it out. I began to text a mate when all I heard from the radio was "Ball into the box, and FONTE puts it into the net" for a second there I thought he'd scored a late own goal but when I heard "And surely that is a late winner for Southampton" I just went mental.

 

After seeing us at Walsall away I was certain we would be in the play offs, it was such a depressing trip home but that late winner at Brighton had me believing we would be in The Championship next season.

 

MK Dons is a game that will stay with me until I die, I remember slating Adkins so much when I saw Forte was coming onto the pitch, he proved me wrong two minutes later. Barnard's winner was fantastic, the scenes around the stadium were wonderful to see and the cheer of the crowd when we dealt (just about!) with late MK Dons pressure and suddenly broke away and Barnard was fouled in the corner still gives me a chill down my back.

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A general feeling. The intense pride of supporting Saints during the last 12 months...... and knowing it'll probably never be this good again.

 

Well put CJB, although I would argue the intense feeling of pride started with our JPT triumph and has continued from there on.

 

Nigel coming into the building and getting the team on the bus, watching all our players improve their game and playing with spirit and pride.

 

Oh yeah, its about the last 12 months!

 

Wallsall at home when the team joined in for a few renditions of 'were coming for you' with Lallana and Barney singing loud and proud!

 

Being at my local non-league club as I couldnt get a Brighton away ticket... they had just lost the local derby and me and my saints mate seeing the late come back and subsequently charging around their club-house screaming and celebrating did not go down well! (We left shortly after).

 

Destroying Leeds was nice, but humiliating Middlesborough and then meeting all the players afterwards was even sweeter.

 

watching Brighton collapse at SMS and the assistant player manager getting sent off, that felt a little like justice after all of brightons cheating and dirty tatics.

 

every single home game this year... seems crazy that the only downer could be the late equaliser against Blackpool - even that felt sweet! Amazing time to be at SMS.

 

De Ridders equaliser at Reading, and the dominos down the stand afterwards... in fact that whole day was a lot of fun.

 

...etc etc etc - its all been incredible

 

best time of my saints supporting career and long may it continue!

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