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Graham Hiley


InvictaSaint

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Not long after we left the Prem in 2005 (or thereabouts - happy to be corrected about the date MLG ;-) ), Graham left the club to work on a Premier league related website. I remember him writing something to the effect of him being sad to leave us and wanting nothing more than to see Saints back in the Premier League, so that he could once more write about us. Does anybody know what Graham is up to now, or whether he has commented on our return? Would be good to know what he's up to.

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Graham is a very good guy who got a lot of unfair stick from fans, especially on Saints Forever. I did some work for him for the OS in about 2006.

 

He's still knocking around, I saw him before the Wigan game at the press entrance. I think his son works on the desk there, where the journos pick up their ID badges etc. Not quite sure who he works for these days, he might even still be at the Premier League.

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I have a friend called Jialong who lives in S/Pore. Some of you may remember him. A few years ago he won a comp where he relied on Saints fans vote for him for something or other. His prize was to come to the UK and see a Saints game. Anyway another trip he came on (it may have been the one he won, I'm not sure) was to see Matt Le Tiss's testimonial game. I got hold of Graham before hand and he gave Jialong his ticket to the post match party - at Jumping Jacks I believe. That to me said a lot about the bloke and is something I've not forgotten, and no doubt Jialong hasn't either. Cheers Graham.

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Graham was indeed a top class chap, until he got swallowed up in Rupert Lowe's propaganda and became the manipulated puppet hand writing the devils blue print for the future. When that happened it was a sad day for Graham, and an even sadder day for Southampton Football Club. I never fully understood why Graham didn't resign rather than put into writing things he could never have believed or supported. I guess needing a job, having a family to feed overruled Graham's otherwise unquestionable integrity.

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Graham is a very good guy who got a lot of unfair stick from fans, especially on Saints Forever. I did some work for him for the OS in about 2006.

 

He's still knocking around, I saw him before the Wigan game at the press entrance. I think his son works on the desk there, where the journos pick up their ID badges etc. Not quite sure who he works for these days, he might even still be at the Premier League.

 

I would go as far as to say, your time working under Graham has gone a long way towards building your integrity and being always to the fore in fighting for injustice and things you don't support or believe in. I remember differing on your opinion of Graham at the time he was forced and manipulated but certainly you've learned a great deal from Mister Hiley.

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Graham was indeed a top class chap, until he got swallowed up in Rupert Lowe's propaganda and became the manipulated puppet hand writing the devils blue print for the future. When that happened it was a sad day for Graham, and an even sadder day for Southampton Football Club. I never fully understood why Graham didn't resign rather than put into writing things he could never have believed or supported. I guess needing a job, having a family to feed overruled Graham's otherwise unquestionable integrity.

I recall Hiley writing a scathing piece about Lowe. Before he resigned.

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Graham was indeed a top class chap, until he got swallowed up in Rupert Lowe's propaganda and became the manipulated puppet hand writing the devils blue print for the future. When that happened it was a sad day for Graham, and an even sadder day for Southampton Football Club. I never fully understood why Graham didn't resign rather than put into writing things he could never have believed or supported. I guess needing a job, having a family to feed overruled Graham's otherwise unquestionable integrity.

Spoke to him once after a fans forum and he said pretty much what you have suggested. Without mentioning specifics (SMS lounge bars have ears) he made it clear that that was not the happiest time of his working life.

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As a member of the media myself I can vouch for the fact that we have, from time to time (more so I should think if you are working for the Daily Mail), got to follow editorial policy rather than our instincts in order to pay the mortgage/rent/kids new shoes etc etc.

Sad fact of life I'm afraid for the jobbing journo

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Met Graham on route to Man City at one of the services, had a good chat with him, says he goes to as many games as he can do as a supporter (ie not because of work) and is enjoying life at the moment. A real gentleman is Mr Hiley and its sad that we really dont know have anyone at the club like him anymore.

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Met Graham while on work experience at the Daily Echo for two weeks around 1997. As I tried to avoid the sadistic news editor who was trying to send me on death knocks, I inevitably gravitated towards him and chewed his ear off asking questions about Saints. Will never forget his morose, knackered face as he came into the office the morning after a grim FA Cup defeat at Fulham. He'd had about three hours sleep and was utterly livid about the performance (as was I). We had a good old moan. Nice bloke.

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