St Louis Posted 27 March, 2012 Share Posted 27 March, 2012 I am loving being a Saints fan right now as I'm sure you all are, and I think this will put a further smile on your faces! My father lives out in The Gambia in Western Africa, and a few years ago he wandered the streets looking for a tailor. As he walked aimlessly in the hope of finding somebody to fix his trousers, he heard a sewing machine in full swing coming from an open doorway. He wandered over and peered his head through the door, and to his huge surprise there sat a local Gambian man (who was indeed a tailor) but more importantly had all of his walls adorned with Saints memorabilia (scarves, calendars, a shirt, etc)!!!!!! It turns out that this man's name is Hassan and he is in fact the President of The Gambian Saints Supporters Club! As you can imagine, the club doesn't have too many members as 99% of the locals out there choose to support the usual 'big' Premier League clubs (also bear in mind we were in League 1 at the time). It turns out that Hassan also runs a local boys team who he has affectionately named 'The Saints'! Over the past few years we have embraced Hassan and his love for Saints, so on each trip we take over memorabilia and merchandise for him, and you have never seen somebody be so appreciative! We also managed to get a feature about him into the Saints matchday programme and The Pink! Anyway, my Dad has just emailed me to say that he has started to expand his one-man tailoring shop and has now employed an apprentice and 2 female members of staff, who he refers to as 'Junior Saint' and 'The Saintettes'! I will be doubly pleased if we gain promotion this season, obviously for my own selfish reasons, but also for this lone tailor in Bakau, The Gambia who chose the Saints as his team (despite our 3rd tier position) over the better advice of his 'friends' in the region who take the easier option of supporting Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea & Arsenal (and in the last 2 years Man City!!!!) My Dad has just emailed this video of Hassan in his shop today..... enjoy.... If you ever happen to be in The Gambia, then pop by and say hello, you can trust me that you will be most welcome! His address is The Gambia Saints - President Al-Hassan, c/o The Tailoring Shop, Luigis, Kololi Beach, The Gambia, West Africa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperMikey Posted 27 March, 2012 Share Posted 27 March, 2012 (edited) I love that video! Absolutely brilliant. Edited 27 March, 2012 by SuperMikey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_Jonny Posted 27 March, 2012 Share Posted 27 March, 2012 Terrific story mate thanks for sharing it with us! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asaint4ever Posted 27 March, 2012 Share Posted 27 March, 2012 Nice thread.. would be nice if we could send some signed shirts over? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shurlock Posted 27 March, 2012 Share Posted 27 March, 2012 Cracking story - best thing I've heard today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northant Saint Posted 27 March, 2012 Share Posted 27 March, 2012 Brilliant!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 27 March, 2012 Share Posted 27 March, 2012 lets hope this lot don't come to sms and act all "ridiculous" like the japanese folk.... ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark Munster Posted 27 March, 2012 Share Posted 27 March, 2012 I am loving being a Saints fan right now as I'm sure you all are, and I think this will put a further smile on your faces! My father lives out in The Gambia in Western Africa, and a few years ago he wandered the streets looking for a tailor. As he walked aimlessly in the hope of finding somebody to fix his trousers, he heard a sewing machine in full swing coming from an open doorway. He wandered over and peered his head through the door, and to his huge surprise there sat a local Gambian man (who was indeed a tailor) but more importantly had all of his walls adorned with Saints memorabilia (scarves, calendars, a shirt, etc)!!!!!! It turns out that this man's name is Hassan and he is in fact the President of The Gambian Saints Supporters Club! As you can imagine, the club doesn't have too many members as 99% of the locals out there choose to support the usual 'big' Premier League clubs (also bear in mind we were in League 1 at the time). It turns out that Hassan also runs a local boys team who he has affectionately named 'The Saints'! Over the past few years we have embraced Hassan and his love for Saints, so on each trip we take over memorabilia and merchandise for him, and you have never seen somebody be so appreciative! We also managed to get a feature about him into the Saints matchday programme and The Pink! Anyway, my Dad has just emailed me to say that he has started to expand his one-man tailoring shop and has now employed an apprentice and 2 female members of staff, who he refers to as 'Junior Saint' and 'The Saintettes'! I will be doubly pleased if we gain promotion this season, obviously for my own selfish reasons, but also for this lone tailor in Bakau, The Gambia who chose the Saints as his team (despite our 3rd tier position) over the better advice of his 'friends' in the region who take the easier option of supporting Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea & Arsenal (and in the last 2 years Man City!!!!) My Dad has just emailed this video of Hassan in his shop today..... enjoy.... If you ever happen to be in The Gambia, then pop by and say hello, you can trust me that you will be most welcome! His address is The Gambia Saints - President Al-Hassan, c/o The Tailoring Shop, Luigis, Kololi Beach, The Gambia, West Africa Top bloke. Any idea why he chose Saints over the ManUre, Arse etc.? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PercyR Posted 27 March, 2012 Share Posted 27 March, 2012 Fantastic!! I think they should become our cheerleaders next season..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tartan_saint Posted 27 March, 2012 Share Posted 27 March, 2012 it would be good if the club/club shop were able to send some of the end of season "dead stock" out to the kids. who knows what even happens to that stuff? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Louis Posted 27 March, 2012 Author Share Posted 27 March, 2012 lets hope this lot don't come to sms and act all "ridiculous" like the japanese folk.... ;-) I sense your sarcasm here.... and I agree with you wholeheartedly! Lets embrace all of our fans, wherever they are.... Together as one! Any man, woman or child that loves The Saints this much is a friend of mine! If only it was easier for him to get a visa, as it would make his 'life' if he could attend a game, I kid you not! We will sort it one day for him! I was hoping that you would all like the story (and especially the choir like singing) so I'm glad I shared it now! OWTS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Louis Posted 27 March, 2012 Author Share Posted 27 March, 2012 Top bloke. Any idea why he chose Saints over the ManUre, Arse etc.? I genuinely don't know as you never quite get a straight answer! I think a tourist or ex-pat once gave him a shirt? They are all footie mad out there, and replica shirts are worn everywhere, only this guy chose to cherish the red and white stripes, and stuck with us through thick and thin! I would love to get hold of some old surplus stock at the end of the season for his boys team, they literally wear rags... they would be proud as punch to wear the real thing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StInky Posted 27 March, 2012 Share Posted 27 March, 2012 Don't often post, but how could I not after watching the video? Absolutely brilliant. Fab. Just one big family! Made my day. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yate Saint Posted 27 March, 2012 Share Posted 27 March, 2012 I may be going there on Holiday in November. Will have to visit if I'm in that area! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victor Posted 27 March, 2012 Share Posted 27 March, 2012 Always wanted to go to Africa but didn't know enough about it to make up my mind which country to go to. Gambia it is then! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steeleye Saint Posted 27 March, 2012 Share Posted 27 March, 2012 I went to the Gambia a few years ago and one of the waiters in a restaurant there was a Saints fan! Didn't get his name unfortunately or I would have sent him some stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supergoose Posted 27 March, 2012 Share Posted 27 March, 2012 Great video, thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graffito Posted 27 March, 2012 Share Posted 27 March, 2012 What a heartwarming story and a great video too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pamplemousse Posted 27 March, 2012 Share Posted 27 March, 2012 Thanks for sharing that with us, an excellent story. I wonder if there are any supporters' clubs further afield than in The Gambia? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moonraker Posted 27 March, 2012 Share Posted 27 March, 2012 Went to the Gambia in the late 80's lovely people, great to see the video thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ottery st mary Posted 27 March, 2012 Share Posted 27 March, 2012 Enjoyed that..Well done to you and Dad...Saints world wide fan club... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fan The Flames Posted 27 March, 2012 Share Posted 27 March, 2012 Uplifting story, I don't know why someone choosing the same team as me is pleasing but it is. Until recently I worked with a few African lads and they are all football mad but Chelsea, Man U and Arsenal fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy Posted 27 March, 2012 Share Posted 27 March, 2012 Absolutely brilliant! Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazlo78 Posted 27 March, 2012 Share Posted 27 March, 2012 Brilliant story and video - thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elias Posted 27 March, 2012 Share Posted 27 March, 2012 Interesting stuff. Would be nice to get this chap over for a match. Knowing Saints we'd lose though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyboy Posted 27 March, 2012 Share Posted 27 March, 2012 Love it, by why only the one scarf in the video? Is the girl on the far left single by the way? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tartan_saint Posted 27 March, 2012 Share Posted 27 March, 2012 I would love to get hold of some old surplus stock at the end of the season for his boys team, they literally wear rags... they would be proud as punch to wear the real thing! I believe some of the other club forums sponsor grass-root football. Couldn't we do it for them? Surely it wouldn't cost a lot if we had a bit of a whip around. If the club donated old training/last seasons shirts... we could pay for the "Saints Web" sponsor printing. Might be worth looking in to? Then again, a lot of folk on here are miserable gits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
23rdSaint Posted 28 March, 2012 Share Posted 28 March, 2012 Absolutely love this! Really brought a big smile to my face. Thanks for posting it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special K Posted 28 March, 2012 Share Posted 28 March, 2012 Great stuff! Nice post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 28 March, 2012 Share Posted 28 March, 2012 Superb. Love it :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paris Posted 28 March, 2012 Share Posted 28 March, 2012 Maybe NC & the team can help ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 28 March, 2012 Share Posted 28 March, 2012 Maybe NC & the team can help ? I thougth this too....suggest the OP sends the details to Sibley & co Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viking Warrior Posted 28 March, 2012 Share Posted 28 March, 2012 HI St Louis I have some saints shirts I rarely wear now as I wear the new models but Im quite happy to forward them on with you . Not enough for a full team Im afraid. Maybe some other posters can do like wise. Wecould say donate a ****e for a particular year that way you may get enough for a full team of retro saints kit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergei Gotsmanov Posted 28 March, 2012 Share Posted 28 March, 2012 Very heart warming. What the Saints brand should all be about. I note though that you can't have taken that much Saints stuff over! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alain Perrin Posted 28 March, 2012 Share Posted 28 March, 2012 I will donate this years shirt, or the anniversary shirt. Surely we could get 11 of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tartan_saint Posted 28 March, 2012 Share Posted 28 March, 2012 I probably have some old merch around that I could donate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opthomps Posted 28 March, 2012 Share Posted 28 March, 2012 Very very good. Quite camp to boot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faz Posted 28 March, 2012 Share Posted 28 March, 2012 St Louis Ask the club to organise a collection point at a home game - in the store perhaps - for people who want to donate old kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seaford Saint Posted 28 March, 2012 Share Posted 28 March, 2012 I will donate the sash shirt and another old shirt....both are large Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
This Charming Man Posted 28 March, 2012 Share Posted 28 March, 2012 Do Barcelona have a supporters club in The Gambia? We can't be far off from overtaking them now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buctootim Posted 28 March, 2012 Share Posted 28 March, 2012 Do Barcelona have a supporters club in The Gambia? We can't be far off from overtaking them now. Damn them. http://www.facebook.com/pages/BARCELONA-FANS-GAMBIA-CHAPTER/124529787563969 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
This Charming Man Posted 28 March, 2012 Share Posted 28 March, 2012 damn them. http://www.facebook.com/pages/barcelona-fans-gambia-chapter/124529787563969 ffs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supergoose Posted 28 March, 2012 Share Posted 28 March, 2012 I'd donate one of my old saints shirts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintBobby Posted 28 March, 2012 Share Posted 28 March, 2012 Ruddy marvellous. I'd be happy to donate some merch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tartan_saint Posted 28 March, 2012 Share Posted 28 March, 2012 Then again, a lot of folk on here are miserable gits. I stand corrected. Good effort all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hypochondriac Posted 28 March, 2012 Share Posted 28 March, 2012 I would definitely donate. I reckon we should raise some funds to maybe bring him over. Not sure how that sort of thing is organised or I would set it up myself. If St Louis wants to sort something and he feels it is appropriate then that would be great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Made in Southampton Posted 28 March, 2012 Share Posted 28 March, 2012 Gambian tailor goes viral! This is great stuff and echo the sentiment of many that this guy needs to come to a game on us. If we could get a kit for his team that would just be fantastic. Let's do this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 28 March, 2012 Share Posted 28 March, 2012 To save the 'rigmarole' of a collection, perhaps there's a few quid in the SWF membership 'rainy day' account that could be tapped into to buy a kit for the Gambian lads? Would make a great story - could even make the national press with the right contacts...it might even pay for itself if it drums up a wave of new memberships to here. Just a thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 28 March, 2012 Share Posted 28 March, 2012 Ha ha, that did make me chuckle. Will never be accepted in the Northam mind, clapping along far too slow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draino76 Posted 28 March, 2012 Share Posted 28 March, 2012 I would. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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