saintedwill Posted 3 April, 2012 Posted 3 April, 2012 Just wanted to let you all know that my dad passed away last night after suffering for a year and 3 months with lung cancer. He supported Saints for 75 years since he was 4 years old and since Markus Liebherr took over the club, he had really high hopes for what we could achieve under the new ownership and Nigel Adkins. It's just a shame he won't be able to see us beat Pompey on Saturday and also play in the Premier League again (in his words, "where we belong"). During his life he had a few meetings with Saints players and I'll always remember him telling me about when it was his job to host a Saints side touring Japan in the 60s which included the likes of Bobby Stokes, Terry Paine & Mike Channon. He always told me how impressed he was about how well our boys could put the drinks away! As dad was coming towards the end of his life and he realised he wouldn't see St. Mary's again, he asked us if it would be possible to be taken around the stadium for one last time before we take him back home to the Isle of Wight. I've been in touch with the club and they have very kindly agreed to lift the barriers so that he can make one last visit to the ground. If anyone would like to be there when we give him his final send off from Southampton, then we are planning to be at St. Mary's between 1-1.30pm on Friday April 20th. COYR
Thedelldays Posted 3 April, 2012 Posted 3 April, 2012 really hope win saturday more so now... RIP fella
CanadaSaint Posted 3 April, 2012 Posted 3 April, 2012 Sympathies to you, my friend. I'm sure you have many memories to cherish. There will be a lot "up there" watching on Saturday, including my dad and sister!
saintscottofthenortham Posted 3 April, 2012 Posted 3 April, 2012 Thoughts with you all. What a great touch to give him a final Tour of the ground. R.I.P fellow saint.
saints-cris Posted 3 April, 2012 Posted 3 April, 2012 Really sad news, hope you're coping well. RIP fellow Saint
Give it to Ron Posted 3 April, 2012 Posted 3 April, 2012 (edited) RIP and my deepest condolences Edited 3 April, 2012 by Give it to Ron
EastleighSoulBoy Posted 3 April, 2012 Posted 3 April, 2012 Sincere condolences to you mate. Full respect to your Dad for his support of Saints in all those years. God bless you all and help you in your darkest moments.
Saints foreva Posted 3 April, 2012 Posted 3 April, 2012 Very sad news, sorry to hear it, RIP fellow Saint.
Seaford Saint Posted 3 April, 2012 Posted 3 April, 2012 So sorry to read this mate. You must be all over the place. Sincere condolences to you and your family.......another Saint in heaven.
Huffton Posted 3 April, 2012 Posted 3 April, 2012 Sorry to hear your sad news mate, I lost my Dad just after christmas so I know exactly what you're going through. I'm sure your Dad will be watching on Saturday, lets hope the boys do him proud. RIP.
ladysaint Posted 3 April, 2012 Posted 3 April, 2012 So sad for your loss hope he has the send off he deserves, he must have entertained you with his stories of our great past players and their antics.
beatlesaint Posted 3 April, 2012 Posted 3 April, 2012 So sorry to hear your sad news. Hope the lads can put a smile back on your face over the next few weeks.
rallyboy Posted 3 April, 2012 Posted 3 April, 2012 many people cherish memories of games attended with departed relatives or friends, it's a healthy link with the past. My dad died more than ten years ago but I still think of him sometimes during games and wonder what he'd make of our recent seasons - he's still in the West Stand Archers moaning at refs and Benali. Saints games are now a happy association that will always be there for you - and especially this saturday - you have an emotional future ahead of you, but in a good way - everytime we achieve something you'll think of him and how pleased he would be. Great idea for a final visit, may he rest in peace knowing that Saints are in good hands. And he can thank Markus from all of us. RIP
saintmatt Posted 3 April, 2012 Posted 3 April, 2012 Sorry to hear that mate, hope you can take comfort in the fact he had a nice long life and checked out on the back of two fantastic years! RIP, a fellow Saint.
Gemmel Posted 3 April, 2012 Posted 3 April, 2012 (edited) RIP Saintbri, SaintedWill, glad to hear the Club have looked after you (I have heard really good things about how they manage sensitive situations like this) Hope the near future isn't too painful and you get to give a celebrationary toast skywards at 14.55 on the 7th. Edited 4 April, 2012 by Gemmel
Sergei Gotsmanov Posted 3 April, 2012 Posted 3 April, 2012 I don't know you but I feel for you and it is always sad to hear the loss of a Saints fan.
hasper57saint Posted 3 April, 2012 Posted 3 April, 2012 So sad to hear the news. RIP fellow Saint and look down to watch us beat the Skates on saturday.
scotty Posted 3 April, 2012 Posted 3 April, 2012 My condolences on your sad loss Sainted Will. What a touching gesture to make, I will do my best to be there on the 20th. Rest in peace, Saint Bri.
trousers Posted 3 April, 2012 Posted 3 April, 2012 I'm sitting on a train home from Waterloo with tears in my eyes. Thoughts are with you and your family. :-(
Mattio Posted 3 April, 2012 Posted 3 April, 2012 RIP, thoughts are you in this time, just remember that first goal against the skates will be for your dad
harwellsaint Posted 3 April, 2012 Posted 3 April, 2012 my thoughts are with you my mum died at age to young, she took with me dad , me and me bro to games in the milton terrace family stand and before my dad used to take us to the boys box! had all of us there watching keegan channon etc, mum always said danny wallace was some player, on to sat , im 41 now, bro 46 and dad 72 , we are still season ticket holders and still do the 120 mile round trip every home game and we still think mum would love seeing saints do well, i hope this makes sense, up the saints!!!!!
Minsk Posted 3 April, 2012 Posted 3 April, 2012 Deepest condolences to you and your family. My own father is in his 70s and also has many stories from the 60s and 70s about drinking with such players as Channon, Osgood, Peach, Stokes, etc; so I fully understand where you are coming from with that. Good to hear the club has been helpful with your request. I hope everything goes as you would like it to on the 20th. RIP SaintBri
Poshie72 Posted 3 April, 2012 Posted 3 April, 2012 RIP fellow Saint. My condolences to you and your family.
THINWHITEDUKE Posted 3 April, 2012 Posted 3 April, 2012 Deepest condolences to you and your family, I'm sure the boys will do your Dad proud on Saturday. So glad the club were able to carry out your wishes.
ottery st mary Posted 3 April, 2012 Posted 3 April, 2012 Sorry to hear of your sad news... May he RIP and the Saints do the biz to make him smile from above.
SW11_Saint Posted 3 April, 2012 Posted 3 April, 2012 Condolences to you and your family. Lovely touch by you, and the club in helping you fulfil your Dad's wish. RIP.
Secret Site Agent Posted 3 April, 2012 Posted 3 April, 2012 The streets of heaven are too crowded with Angels, and a saint has joined them. Althoough not much comfort but at least he could rejoice in the slow and staedy rise of our wonderful club once more. The hopes and prayers of my family gop out to you and yours in this sad and terrible time, made more hard hitting to me for the fact that 2 days ago was the seventh aniversary of my mothers death. I'm sure on Saturday he'll be 'in that number' when the Saints go marching in.
saintalan Posted 3 April, 2012 Posted 3 April, 2012 I still think of sitting with my Dad at the Dell, sadly he never made St Mary's but I did get him a Brick in the Wall. Also will never forget Wembley 76! Condolences to you and family. RIP Saintbri
sussexsaint Posted 4 April, 2012 Posted 4 April, 2012 Deepest condolences and RIP my friend. We are all one family at heart on here.
rooney Posted 4 April, 2012 Posted 4 April, 2012 Deepest sympathies, our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Bucks Saint Posted 4 April, 2012 Posted 4 April, 2012 Sorry for your loss, thinking of you. Great that the club are being so supportive. Have to say that they were excellent when my sister died (age 46) last Sept, really went the extra mile for a fan they did not know cheers for Sat
Under Weststand Posted 4 April, 2012 Posted 4 April, 2012 Deepest sympathy's to you & your family. Very poignant post, & a nice touch by the club to allow your Dad one last trip around Saint Mary's. He can sit with the rest of the Saints departed, including my dad on Saturday cheering the boys on to victory. Hopefully Sat will give you a really happy memory to put alongside the many you already have of your dad. RIP
dellgirl Posted 4 April, 2012 Posted 4 April, 2012 I am sure you can feel the love and support of the Saint's family at this very sad for you and your loved ones. We really do care for each other in the bad times and I like to think of my Dad and Grandfather in the stand in the sky looking down on St. Mary's and I'm sure your Dad will have a great welcome and just think of all the stories they can swap . Hope the boys can do it for them on saturday.
Wilf Posted 4 April, 2012 Posted 4 April, 2012 Best wishes to you and your family at this very sad time.
saint_ed Posted 4 April, 2012 Posted 4 April, 2012 Very sad news indeed. Thoughts are with you and your family and wishing you strength at this awful time.
dronskisaint Posted 4 April, 2012 Posted 4 April, 2012 Sad news, condolences to your family. In his Saints supporting lifetime he'll have experienced all the ups and downs...nice that he saw the upsurge, cup and promotion as his final memory.
rick1976.4.38 Posted 4 April, 2012 Posted 4 April, 2012 condolences to you and your family.its good he got to see the good times again.i lost my dad ten years ago and every saints game have a little word with him,as im sure you will. born a saint live a saint die a saint
derry Posted 4 April, 2012 Posted 4 April, 2012 My sincerest condolences to you and your family at your sad loss.
Leicestersaint Posted 4 April, 2012 Posted 4 April, 2012 Sad news - sorry your Dad won't get the chance to see us beat Pompey and get promoted - but maybe he will see it where he's gone with other Saints in the sky including my own Dad - RIP and sincere condolences.
Macey_J2 Posted 4 April, 2012 Posted 4 April, 2012 Will, so sorry to hear about your dad. Really sad he couldn't see the season finale when it promises to be this special. Hope your family are coping well.
saintedwill Posted 19 April, 2012 Author Posted 19 April, 2012 Just wanted to say thank you for all the messages and support, you won't believe how much they've helped us through this tough time. The funeral's tomorrow and then we'll be taking Dad to St. Mary's for one last visit. If we happen to get a lucky goal on Saturday or a dead cert goal for Middlesborough inexplicably hits the post, you'll know who to thank.
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