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1961-62 season


John15
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I’m writing a book about Liverpool's promotion campaign of 1961-62 and, for each away game, I'm trying to capture the flavour of football in that era. Liverpool visited the Dell in December 1961, when the Saints won 2-0. I'd be interested in anyone's memories about following Southampton around that time, whether or not they can remember this particular game. I’m looking for things like the differences in watching the game back then, where the away fans generally congregated in pre-segregation days, what the home support was like and any anecdotes that gives an insight into what it was like watching football in the early 1960s.

Hope you can help. Cheers.

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well it's my "era " alright, but I can't say I recall that specific game......) however, IN THAT NUMBER, (the bible of Saints football in the WW2 period has this to say;

 

02.12.61 v Liverpool (H) 2-0

28 min. 1-0 Mulgrew - header from corner.'

55 min. 2-0 O'Brien- "great shot flew into corner of net", (game) watched by Winterbottom (Eng. manager)

Saints undaunted by pressure - played with great determination and considerable skill)

 

With respect to the authors, this is not my copyright and I give thanks to In that Number and their contribution to the SFC 's documented history.

 

However, on a personal level I do know that after an indifferent start to that season Saints were up to around 2nd place at the end of September, but rather lost it after that win against 'pool.

Although they recovered after the New Year they never did enough to get back up the table and finished in 6th place - and Liverpool went on to win the title that season by a considerable margin of points.

 

There was no crowd segregation in those days, and some years later (after Saints were promoted to Div.1 - as it was then), I was standing on the terraces at The Dell, shoulder to shoulder with a group of 'pool fans who were very good-humoured and friendly (and who told tales of their previous weeks' trip to ....Milan ? ..for a European Cup game).

They were equally enthusaistic to be watching 'pool play against a side of relatively new " minnows " in the top division and were very complimentary - even of good play from some of the Saints players.

 

BY.. this time Liverpool (under Shankly) had become the best sides in Europe - by a distance) and were a very attractive side to watch - even if you were playing against them.

I have been a Saints fan for over 50 years, but I have to admit - if I ever had a " second team " ..it would probably be Liverpool, as I've always admired their European record of success.

 

**interesting note; even though Liverpool were superior in the later decades, I think that Saints must have a good record of wins against them, (at the Dell) as I recall some outstanding games where we won decisively.

 

Thanks for the opportunity to share a few memories of that period.

Edited by david in sweden
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well it's my "era " alright, but I can't say I recall that specific game......) however, IN THAT NUMBER, (the bible of Saints football in the WW2 period has this to say;

 

02.12.61 v Liverpool (H) 2-0

28 min. 1-0 Mulgrew - header from corner.'

55 min. 2-0 O'Brien- "great shot flew into corner of net", (game) watched by Winterbottom (Eng. manager)

Saints undaunted by pressure - played with great determination and considerable skill)

 

With respect to the authors, this is not my copyright and I give thanks to In that Number and their contribution to the SFC 's documented history.

 

However, on a personal level I do know that after an indifferent start to that season Saints were up to around 2nd place at the end of September, but rather lost it after that win against 'pool.

Although they recovered after the New Year they never did enough to get back up the table and finished in 6th place - and Liverpool went on to win the title that season by a considerable margin of points.

 

There was no crowd segregation in those days, and some years later (after Saints were promoted to Div.1 - as it was then), I was standing on the terraces at The Dell, shoulder to shoulder with a group of 'pool fans who were very good-humoured and friendly (and who told tales of their previous weeks' trip to ....Milan ? ..for a European Cup game).

They were equally enthusaistic to be watching 'pool play against a side of relatively new " minnows " in the top division and were very complimentary - even of good play from some of the Saints players.

 

BY.. this time Liverpool (under Shankly) had become the best sides in Europe - by a distance) and were a very attractive side to watch - even if you were playing against them.

I have been a Saints fan for over 50 years, but I have to admit - if I ever had a " second team " ..it would probably be Liverpool, as I've always admired their European record of success.

 

**interesting note; even though Liverpool were superior in the later decades, I think that Saints must have a good record of wins against them, (at the Dell) as I recall some outstanding games where we won decisively.

 

Thanks for the opportunity to share a few memories of that period.

 

Thanks for this, David. I think the game you're referring to was in Sept 1966, when Liverpool won 2-1 with goals from St John and Callaghan. We were in the final of the old European Cup Winners Cup the May before and lost controversially to Inter Milan in the European Cup semi-final the year before that. I'm really interested in the fact you watched Southampton play Liverpool with Scousers and got on so well them. Can I ask you to contact me directly by email (my email is address is johnkennedy@uk2.net) as there's a few questions for the book I'd like to ask you about watching Southampton in the early sixties.

 

Cheers

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