Where we are now

[Horton Heath Saint]

I have supported the club since 1965, my first match was Wolves at home, we won 9-3!! Ask David Bull or Duncan! True!!

To think where we are now after the early sixties, being promoted for the first time staying in the First Division, getting relegated the first time they had three up, three down. Winning the FA Cup, I was there! Early eighties with Keegan, Ball,Channon, Shilton etc. Horrible Branfoot years as manger.

Good and bad with Rupert, shame about the name! Very arrogant, he probably will agree.

Involved with building of St Mary's, nice face, shame about the place.

Then as supporters, little we did we know, the club crumbled in our own eyes, at that time I think we were all blinded by science or better still SILENCE!

Michael Wilde came in, with a very aggressive share buy out, backed by Leon Crouch with others and Lawrie Mac, nice at the time, but with no big investment backing. Michael Wilde used all our parachute payments in one go to back up with George Burley, a massive gamble, if we went up, massive quids in on his investment and he would have made a buck.

He lost out, we lost out.

Then the rumblings started, no more money, starting to lose money big time, team not doing well, very poor signings, wages much too high, creeky ship, Leon Crouch smells a rat, enter Rupert, sniffs up to Michael Wilde ( wild enemies! ) to protect their investments, too late. What a crass move Rupert, just looking to cover yourself.

At these times massive amounts of money were going to The Board, Clive Woodward his sidekick Simon whatever his name was, huge amounts.

Then Redknapp was bought in, how much? Not finished yet, Bond and Smith as well!! Rofe was there as well! How much were they all on as well?

Slippery slope started to slip and we did big time. In hindsight, do you think he looked a Saint?

Bring on the Swiss master!

This was the lowest of Lowe, God forbid what would have happened next.

Enter Marcus.

Part two next!

[mitch01]

fantastic

[Pilchards]

Part two next....

 

 

Will only be a happy one as things are really looking up.

 

Great article whoever you are?

[Pilchards]

Simon Clifford is the woody sidekick.

[Frank's cousin]

I have supported the club since 1965, my first match was Wolves at home, we won 9-3!! Ask David Bull or Duncan! True!!

To think where we are now after the early sixties, being promoted for the first time staying in the First Division, getting relegated the first time they had three up, three down. Winning the FA Cup, I was there! Early eighties with Keegan, Ball,Channon, Shilton etc. Horrible Branfoot years as manger.

Good and bad with Rupert, shame about the name! Very arrogant, he probably will agree.

Involved with building of St Mary's, nice face, shame about the place.

Then as supporters, little we did we know, the club crumbled in our own eyes, at that time I think we were all blinded by science or better still SILENCE!

Michael Wilde came in, with a very aggressive share buy out, backed by Leon Crouch with others and Lawrie Mac, nice at the time, but with no big investment backing. Michael Wilde used all our parachute payments in one go to back up with George Burley, a massive gamble, if we went up, massive quids in on his investment and he would have made a buck.

He lost out, we lost out.

Then the rumblings started, no more money, starting to lose money big time, team not doing well, very poor signings, wages much too high, creeky ship, Leon Crouch smells a rat, enter Rupert, sniffs up to Michael Wilde ( wild enemies! ) to protect their investments, too late. What a crass move Rupert, just looking to cover yourself.

At these times massive amounts of money were going to The Board, Clive Woodward his sidekick Simon whatever his name was, huge amounts.

Then Redknapp was bought in, how much? Not finished yet, Bond and Smith as well!! Rofe was there as well! How much were they all on as well?

Slippery slope started to slip and we did big time. In hindsight, do you think he looked a Saint?

Bring on the Swiss master!

This was the lowest of Lowe, God forbid what would have happened next.

Enter Marcus.

Part two next!

 

Nice summary, Being a little younger, first match was November 75, home to Forrest - remember being in Germany (army kid) having watched Hamburg and Keegan, and being stunned when he signed, the 2nd plave year in 84, is always a highlight... but i think you might have a few things mixed up on teh crumble front, as I recall it was Crouch/tangoman/wilde that sanctioned the the 7mil spend on the promo push which saw wilde ousted from a control - good intentioned as it was, Lowe and Wilde joining forces to save tehir crumbling share value may be true, but they at least did try and halt the financial slide, which was necessary whatever their personal reasons behind it.

 

Then Fry and admin and the farce that was several mythical and some not so mythical bids - Paul Allans yacht, barry briefcase, and the bloke living at his mums... when the first rumours of the swiss bid starte, simply thought it was another of those made up things form an ITK... Markus and the new dawn - and how lucky we were to attract such a decent bloke with integrity to match his money. There remains some cynicism, not helped by some 'non-fan-friendly' decsions (ticket taxes, car parking charges etc) - but what a 3 year journey - bottom of L1 to spenidng 30 mil in our first transfer window back in the top flight - thats some change.

 

Some stil moan about defensive frailties - which do exist, but we need to acknowledge that some of these guys were playing L1 not so long ago, and you cant change the whole thing overnight, despite money - if anything thats the only downside of our rapid rise - teh fact it probably takes longer than that to get the squad to the same level as the division we are in... but not a bad situation to be in, especially when we see the type of football we aspire to play and have played to get us up the ladder..

 

Surely on the brink of our best times?

[Cricketphilly]

You've got the Burley and Rednapp times back to front I think HHS