aussiesaint20 Posted 21 October, 2013 Share Posted 21 October, 2013 This brilliant story popped up on our Facebook page and I thought it was worth sharing(some might disagree). It's written by 18 year old Hong Kong born Kelvin Szeto. He has been in Oz for just over a year for study and recently connected with our Sydney Saints group to watch matches. Like many from his part of the world, Kelvin was originally a supporter of a 'Big 4' team, but thankfully he's now seen the red and white lights. This is his observation from Saturday night and what being a Saints fan means to him: "I dont normally type much as i m not gd at expressing myself. but It was a very meaning game to me and I was very emotional abt the draw... As you may knew , I was an United fans when I was small, until I watched my first live EPL game at St.Mary last November ( as most ppl in HK tended to support Big Clubs). It was a bit weird feeling for me when i was watching saints playing with United which i supported for 10+ years... its kinda weird feeling like u r watching your girlfriend fighting with your ex lol. Back in Nov,2012 , When i first went to the stadium, i didnt feel i m part of the club but after the game , the passion from fans and the players touched me. Afterwards i started to chase for Saints and yes, i m not an experienced saints but i m proud for my choice to be a saints. I was in a sports bar in Sydney with Southampton Australian Supporters Supporters, even we were 1-0 down , i still have full faith in saints and the team proved what we are capable in. we played wonderful team football and our team spirit is awesome. From great saves from King Boruc , how Victor frozen Fellaini and the tackle Morgan to Welbeck to shots made by Adam and lads... It was just awesome team football. We hug and congrats each other after the game , I was so emotional , i feel like i belongs to the club and the reaction i had after game really confirmed it. I never regret my choice for becoming a saints . I wanna thanks the friend of mine who brought me to St Marys and all the fans from Itchen Ends , without them , i wont be who I m . I wish we keep smiling till the end of the season. COYR" Personally, I'm loving life as a Southampton fan at the moment and wouldn't give it up for the world. Having observed all sorts of different supporter groups in Australia, I have a feeling that this recent success means a lot more to us, than it would your typical global Liverpool/Manc/Chelsea fan, which is why I've never been envious of their expected success. It's also why I never get sick of hearing stories of our support from around the world. If anyone feels like sharing their own 'Saints supporter story' I'd love to read it and I'm sure I'm not the only one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skintsaint Posted 21 October, 2013 Share Posted 21 October, 2013 wonder who the next team he supports will be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussiesaint20 Posted 21 October, 2013 Author Share Posted 21 October, 2013 wonder who the next team he supports will be? Hahaha, I had a feeling this would be one of the first replies. In all fairness to the young lad it's an incredible different set up over there. It's basically Top 4 or nothing, somewhat sickening. There's also some scary stats involved in the Asian markets and one that doesn't bode well for our long term success on the pitch(factoring in that clubs spend their revenue effectively). There's a Liverpool supporter's group in Hong Kong with over 950,000 members! Once these clubs start working out how to capitalise on the incredible amount of global revenue available, we will be massively up against it. So every fan we can get in our corner is a little win for the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farawaysaint Posted 21 October, 2013 Share Posted 21 October, 2013 (edited) wonder who the next team he supports will be? Not really fair it is exactly the same in Africa, everyone supports one of the big 4 as they get all the coverage. Recently on the radio when in fourth I remember them reading out the positions as follows: Arsenal: 1st Liverpool: 2nd Chelsea: 3rd Aaaannnddd Man U:9th Needless to say, I was quite peeved. I also had an interest in Man U when smaller due to the coverage they get but my Dad thankfully put me on the straight and narrow to the team he's always supported. Edited 21 October, 2013 by farawaysaint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max_saints Posted 21 October, 2013 Share Posted 21 October, 2013 as i've mentioned before, i'm a true blue born and bred Singaporean proudly supporting my team 7000 miles away. I think the reason why most in my country and surrounding Asian countries support the big teams is because they are the only teams getting media coverage around here. knowledge of teams outside the big 5 or 6 are minimal amongst most of the so called 'football fans'. unfortunately, there are people who still mix me up as that Sunderland supporter because of the stripes. I think the toughest period for me supporting the Saints had to be the drop down the divisions to league 1, back then the only way I could follow the team was through the Internet and dodgy highlights on random sites. it really tested me in the sense that I was wondering to myself why bother when I barely saw the team in action and I wasn't related to Southampton in any way. I'm glad I got that silly idea out of my head though as I don't think I would be as happy supporting one of the big teams as I would be supporting our club. It still is hard supporting the Saints though, as the OP has mentioned supporters like us in faraway lands don't really feel like we belong, and the only connection we can get with fellow fans is through forums like this one (and it can get unbearable at times viewing the forums with all the trolling). but its well worth it when I get to rub it in the face of my mates when we achieve the odd result against the big teams (quite often in recent times though and I'm not complaining!) ultimately the dream is still to celebrate a late rickie winner against united with the fans at St marys sometime soon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericb Posted 21 October, 2013 Share Posted 21 October, 2013 Not a dig but for the life of me it makes no sense how people can support a club from a city they've never been to, have no connection to and (probably most importantly) weren't born in. Your football club is quite simply am extension of your pride in your city, the idea that two fans who've never been to either city are gloating about "their" team winning against each other just baffles me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelman Posted 21 October, 2013 Share Posted 21 October, 2013 The problem with the Big 4, is that most supporters expect to win week in, week out. If you do happen to win week in, week out then after a while, I imagine it gets a little tedious. I know that that is in extremis and doesn't actually happen, but I can't think of anything worse than following Celtic at the moment. OK you might slip up, but what excitement do you get from beating everyone else in the league when you are expected to? Saints - well we aren't expected to win the whole time, and given the history over the past few decades, we are more than capable of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. When we win, I get a real buzz, whether it be Crystal Palace or Liverpool. Of course I would like to win every game the whole time, which of course won't happen. I hope that we can join the "Big 4" or 6 or however many, mainly so that we can dilute their rather staid domination that has happened for the past few years. Was listening to talkSPORT last night, and one of the jounos said that he would love to see Saints finish in the CL positions, not because he particularly liked us, but to make things more interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelman Posted 21 October, 2013 Share Posted 21 October, 2013 Not a dig but for the life of me it makes no sense how people can support a club from a city they've never been to, have no connection to and (probably most importantly) weren't born in. Your football club is quite simply am extension of your pride in your city, the idea that two fans who've never been to either city are gloating about "their" team winning against each other just baffles me. I can't see how people can be so whimsical and change the team they support so easily. A bit like having a second team (well at least one that plays in the same division as you). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffo Posted 21 October, 2013 Share Posted 21 October, 2013 This is the downside to success and being towards the top of the Prem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 21 October, 2013 Share Posted 21 October, 2013 It depends on what your definition of a supporter is. Anyone can buy a shirt or sit on the sofa or in the pub watching a game, anyway can check the score of a game on their SKy sports app on their Iphone and then brag about how their team has won or dislay faux dispair about losing a game. It's easy to claim to follow a team when they are doing well in the premier league, that doesn't make you a supporter, it makes you a consumer. Supporters are people that actually do something for the club, that go to games, back and support the team in good time and bad and dont disapear like 10,000 so called Saints fans did in 2005 when we were relegated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearsy Posted 21 October, 2013 Share Posted 21 October, 2013 Is Kelvin a common name in Hong Kong? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsAhoy Posted 21 October, 2013 Share Posted 21 October, 2013 It depends on what your definition of a supporter is. Anyone can buy a shirt or sit on the sofa or in the pub watching a game, anyway can check the score of a game on their SKy sports app on their Iphone and then brag about how their team has won or dislay faux dispair about losing a game. It's easy to claim to follow a team when they are doing well in the premier league, that doesn't make you a supporter, it makes you a consumer. Supporters are people that actually do something for the club, that go to games, back and support the team in good time and bad and dont disapear like 10,000 so called Saints fans did in 2005 when we were relegated. Wouldn't you say buying a shirt is 'doing something for the club'? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohio Saint Posted 21 October, 2013 Share Posted 21 October, 2013 It depends on what your definition of a supporter is. Anyone can buy a shirt or sit on the sofa or in the pub watching a game, anyway can check the score of a game on their SKy sports app on their Iphone and then brag about how their team has won or dislay faux dispair about losing a game. It's easy to claim to follow a team when they are doing well in the premier league, that doesn't make you a supporter, it makes you a consumer. Supporters are people that actually do something for the club, that go to games, back and support the team in good time and bad and dont disapear like 10,000 so called Saints fans did in 2005 when we were relegated. I guess I'm not a supporter then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearsy Posted 21 October, 2013 Share Posted 21 October, 2013 Wouldn't you say buying a shirt is 'doing something for the club'? nah if he was real saints fan he would be boycot. SOS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 21 October, 2013 Share Posted 21 October, 2013 Wouldn't you say buying a shirt is 'doing something for the club'? i wouldn't say it makes you a supporter, Loads of people buy football shirts. Do the thousands of Barcelona shirts you see around England these days mean that all these people are Barcelona fans? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 21 October, 2013 Share Posted 21 October, 2013 I guess I'm not a supporter then. Of course some peoples cirmcumstance, like i'd imagine yours are, whereby you're a Saints fan that has moved to another country so it means going to games is very rare so i appreciate that. My own circumstances have changed recently which mean that after years of going to 95% of home games a a fair few aways i wont be able to attend anywhere near as much as a i used to. I'm more refering to the type of person that choses to support a club for no real reason and claims to be a fan. Like the bloke i've mentioned before that i met on holiday once who was a Norwich fan but decided he needed a premier league club to support so chose Chelsea, picking a team, buying a shirt and watching them on telly when they are on doesn't make you a fan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niceandfriendly Posted 21 October, 2013 Share Posted 21 October, 2013 Is Kelvin a common name in Hong Kong? Very. They could choose any English name they wish to. There are even some who call themselves Bear. Believe it or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffo Posted 21 October, 2013 Share Posted 21 October, 2013 There's 2 different types for me. There's the 'fan' who is your typical sit down the pub or in their living room who has bought the shirt and pretends to care a lot more than they really should and have no connection to the club whatsoever. Then there's your supporter who supports the club in one way or another, by going to games regularly home and away and putting money into the club. Buying a shirt does not make you a supporter though even though you are putting money into the club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Tender Posted 21 October, 2013 Share Posted 21 October, 2013 In some countries in the Far East, where bribery and corruption is rife, sometimes glory teams' replica shirts are handed out by political candidates to bribe voters. So you see somebody wearing an Arsenal, Man Utd, Chelsea or Liverpool shirt and engaging them in conversation about "their team", you find that they aren't really fans at all, but it is smart to wear a shirt of a glory team. Those replica shirts are almost certainly fakes and cheap to buy anyway, so although the appearance is given that the big 4 clubs are raking in loadsamoney, the impression is slightly false. But I wonder whether there will increasingly be some cachet for the overseas fanbase of the less glamorous clubs like us to grow, purely on the basis that those who support us can claim to be individuals, capable of making up their own minds, rather than following the majority like mindless sheep. If we can beat those teams at least in half of the matches we play them each season, I could see our popularity growing apace, starting with many adopting us as their second team, then switching allegiance as their glory teams begin to fade, much as Man United are beginning to, post Ferguson and Liverpool did the past couple of seasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chewy Posted 21 October, 2013 Share Posted 21 October, 2013 Of course some peoples cirmcumstance, like i'd imagine yours are, whereby you're a Saints fan that has moved to another country so it means going to games is very rare so i appreciate that. My own circumstances have changed recently which mean that after years of going to 95% of home games a a fair few aways i wont be able to attend anywhere near as much as a i used to. I'm more refering to the type of person that choses to support a club for no real reason and claims to be a fan. Like the bloke i've mentioned before that i met on holiday once who was a Norwich fan but decided he needed a premier league club to support so chose Chelsea, picking a team, buying a shirt and watching them on telly when they are on doesn't make you a fan. Fair point, but if you live on the other side of the planet, what can you do about it? There are thousands of football nuts throughout Asia pacific and oz who can't possibly demonstrate their support in any other way, and while you could argue they should support their local football, it really isn't the same for them. We are spoilt by being in a nation with a rich football heritage, there's lots who aren't. However, plastic fans in England have no excuse, I'm afraid. Anyway, my tedious story - in oz my mates and I stopped at a drive thru off licence (can you imagine that concept here!!!) and the owner was a saints fan which kind of shocked me. Said he'd been a lifelong fan. Anyway, he asked us if we were drinking the crate of vb on the road, to which we obviously said no it was for later. "****, you're not??" He sounded genuinely shocked that we wouldn't be drinking whilst driving. He then decided to take the spare tyre out of its compartment, pack it full of ice, and put the beer in there. "Nothing worse than a warm vb" he said. I love the Aussies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Crab Posted 21 October, 2013 Share Posted 21 October, 2013 This brilliant story popped up on our Facebook page and I thought it was worth sharing(some might disagree). It's written by 18 year old Hong Kong born Kelvin Szeto. He has been in Oz for just over a year for study and recently connected with our Sydney Saints group to watch matches. Like many from his part of the world, Kelvin was originally a supporter of a 'Big 4' team, but thankfully he's now seen the red and white lights. This is his observation from Saturday night and what being a Saints fan means to him: "I dont normally type much as i m not gd at expressing myself. but It was a very meaning game to me and I was very emotional abt the draw... As you may knew , I was an United fans when I was small, until I watched my first live EPL game at St.Mary last November ( as most ppl in HK tended to support Big Clubs). It was a bit weird feeling for me when i was watching saints playing with United which i supported for 10+ years... its kinda weird feeling like u r watching your girlfriend fighting with your ex lol. Back in Nov,2012 , When i first went to the stadium, i didnt feel i m part of the club but after the game , the passion from fans and the players touched me. Afterwards i started to chase for Saints and yes, i m not an experienced saints but i m proud for my choice to be a saints. I was in a sports bar in Sydney with Southampton Australian Supporters Supporters, even we were 1-0 down , i still have full faith in saints and the team proved what we are capable in. we played wonderful team football and our team spirit is awesome. From great saves from King Boruc , how Victor frozen Fellaini and the tackle Morgan to Welbeck to shots made by Adam and lads... It was just awesome team football. We hug and congrats each other after the game , I was so emotional , i feel like i belongs to the club and the reaction i had after game really confirmed it. I never regret my choice for becoming a saints . I wanna thanks the friend of mine who brought me to St Marys and all the fans from Itchen Ends , without them , i wont be who I m . I wish we keep smiling till the end of the season. COYR" Personally, I'm loving life as a Southampton fan at the moment and wouldn't give it up for the world. Having observed all sorts of different supporter groups in Australia, I have a feeling that this recent success means a lot more to us, than it would your typical global Liverpool/Manc/Chelsea fan, which is why I've never been envious of their expected success. It's also why I never get sick of hearing stories of our support from around the world. If anyone feels like sharing their own 'Saints supporter story' I'd love to read it and I'm sure I'm not the only one. Are you sure that isn't Bearsy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 21 October, 2013 Share Posted 21 October, 2013 I'm teaching in a college at the moment with students from all around the Globe. Several other European countries, more from the Middle East, and many African countries. So who do they support? .......Real Madrid, Barcelona, Man.Utd. and Chelsea. Mind you most of them have never been to the UK (or Spain)..let alone seen " their team " play live. When things weren't going well last year, many of them asked me ....why I didn't support one of the " big clubs " ? I was born in So'ton, have been a fan for over 50 years .....Who else would I support ?......Change my club affiliation? ......might as well try and change my blood type. so now .....Why don't I support one of the " big clubs " .....I do ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coxford_lou Posted 21 October, 2013 Share Posted 21 October, 2013 Of course some peoples cirmcumstance, like i'd imagine yours are, whereby you're a Saints fan that has moved to another country so it means going to games is very rare so i appreciate that. My own circumstances have changed recently which mean that after years of going to 95% of home games a a fair few aways i wont be able to attend anywhere near as much as a i used to. I'm more refering to the type of person that choses to support a club for no real reason and claims to be a fan. Like the bloke i've mentioned before that i met on holiday once who was a Norwich fan but decided he needed a premier league club to support so chose Chelsea, picking a team, buying a shirt and watching them on telly when they are on doesn't make you a fan. Really? Isn't that kind of judgemental? Isn't the fact that he's chosen to support Southampton when he's thousands of miles away kind of cool? Particularly as it was during time when we weren't successful? Like, little old Southampton has got an important place in the world. Doesn't that excite you? I say embrace this kind of support, rather than put it down as being inferior to your own. Anyone who loves Saints FC is kinda cool with me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KelvinsRightGlove Posted 21 October, 2013 Share Posted 21 October, 2013 Is Kelvin a common name in Hong Kong? Yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max_saints Posted 22 October, 2013 Share Posted 22 October, 2013 so the general consensus is someone like me 7000 miles away with no relations to the city itself should have no business supporting the team? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farawaysaint Posted 22 October, 2013 Share Posted 22 October, 2013 so the general consensus is someone like me 7000 miles away with no relations to the city itself should have no business supporting the team? We'll start our own supporter's club, one with blackjack and hookers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eelpie Posted 22 October, 2013 Share Posted 22 October, 2013 Daily obsession with all things Saints. But when we win and are doing well I think of what it would mean to my departed dad and also my grandad (who was born two years after the first St Mary's football team was founded). They took me to my first games at The Dell as a lad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearsy Posted 22 October, 2013 Share Posted 22 October, 2013 Daily obsession with all things Saints. yeah i think that is the definition really. I think about Saints every day. I sit on toilet contemplating bout how many goals Lallana will score this season. At my own nan's funeral i was more busy wondering if Shaw would be fit for next game, i nearly raised the matter in her eulogy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Sanchez Posted 22 October, 2013 Share Posted 22 October, 2013 Not really fair it is exactly the same in Africa, everyone supports one of the big 4 as they get all the coverage. Recently on the radio when in fourth I remember them reading out the positions as follows: Arsenal: 1st Liverpool: 2nd Chelsea: 3rd Aaaannnddd Man U:9th Needless to say, I was quite peeved. I also had an interest in Man U when smaller due to the coverage they get but my Dad thankfully put me on the straight and narrow to the team he's always supported. Africa is a poor market compared to Asia, United along with Liverpool dominate that part of the World, Liverpool have not been anywhere near as successful as they used to be(very successful for other clubs compared) and they are still easily in the top 6/7 largest clubs in the World. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daren W Posted 22 October, 2013 Share Posted 22 October, 2013 It depends on what your definition of a supporter is. Anyone can buy a shirt or sit on the sofa or in the pub watching a game, anyway can check the score of a game on their SKy sports app on their Iphone and then brag about how their team has won or dislay faux dispair about losing a game. It's easy to claim to follow a team when they are doing well in the premier league, that doesn't make you a supporter, it makes you a consumer. Supporters are people that actually do something for the club, that go to games, back and support the team in good time and bad and dont disapear like 10,000 so called Saints fans did in 2005 when we were relegated. Post of the day.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffo Posted 22 October, 2013 Share Posted 22 October, 2013 Really? Isn't that kind of judgemental? Isn't the fact that he's chosen to support Southampton when he's thousands of miles away kind of cool? Particularly as it was during time when we weren't successful? Like, little old Southampton has got an important place in the world. Doesn't that excite you? I say embrace this kind of support, rather than put it down as being inferior to your own. Anyone who loves Saints FC is kinda cool with me. Wicked awesome cool dude. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 22 October, 2013 Share Posted 22 October, 2013 so the general consensus is someone like me 7000 miles away with no relations to the city itself should have no business supporting the team? No, but many of us do find it hard to understand why anyone doesn't support their home town team or the team that dad took you to watch. Plenty of Saints fans, for example, have more time for a skate who was born on inbred island and has been going since a nipper, than we do for a plastic manc who has never been north of Winchester. I work with plenty of Stoke & Port Vale fans and wouldn't dream of giving them grief but I rip into the plastic Chelsea/Mans/Bin Dippers at every opportunity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max_saints Posted 22 October, 2013 Share Posted 22 October, 2013 No, but many of us do find it hard to understand why anyone doesn't support their home town team or the team that dad took you to watch. I understand english fans might view me as plastic/glory hunter whatever but before you come to that hasty conclusion, you have to understand some background. My country has a population less than that of just London itself and to then have to accommodate an entire league of 12 teams within this small country itself, you have to understand that most of the teams play a very very low standard of football. Attendances average 1200 every week during a good season and after the season ends, teams shift their entire squad of players around so that you get a completely new squad of players at the start of a new season, its no wonder the teams are so pathetic because they can't get any consistency at all. Fans find it hard to follow their team season after season when they see their top scorers leave every other season and do not have an idol to worship. Even the champions see their coaches move to a lower team, something that I still do not understand about the league. Because the country is so small, there really is no clear distinction of a 'home town', home town is really just the entire country itself to most of us. Also, because of the lack of human resource, the government is extremely competitive in terms of its economy and has no time for sports so the set up of the league is really unprofessional and at times amateurish. And there you go, a background to the football scene in my country and to why I chose to follow the Saints (welcome or unwelcome) because following the local team is akin to you guys following your local pub teams. (tbf which plastic fan chooses to support Saints especially in the last few years???) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eurosaint Posted 22 October, 2013 Share Posted 22 October, 2013 Is Kelvin a common name in Hong Kong? Herewith some names from my former Hong Kong office : Female : Queenie, Fannie, Jonnie, Milky & Sabrina ! Male : Ambrose, Hilary (try saying that with a heavy Chinese accent!) Kiki, Broderick & Enoch ! Never came across a Kelvin in all my time in HK ! HTH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rasiak-9- Posted 22 October, 2013 Share Posted 22 October, 2013 It depends on what your definition of a supporter is. Anyone can buy a shirt or sit on the sofa or in the pub watching a game, anyway can check the score of a game on their SKy sports app on their Iphone and then brag about how their team has won or dislay faux dispair about losing a game. It's easy to claim to follow a team when they are doing well in the premier league, that doesn't make you a supporter, it makes you a consumer. Supporters are people that actually do something for the club, that go to games, back and support the team in good time and bad and dont disapear like 10,000 so called Saints fans did in 2005 when we were relegated. Well said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericb Posted 22 October, 2013 Share Posted 22 October, 2013 Fans find it hard to follow their team season after season when they see their top scorers leave every other season and do not have an idol to worship. That's the bit i don't understand in the slightest, i'm not saying we've never had idols or lost players, but jesus i support my team no matter who plays for it since it's a representation of my city. We don't need idols, we just have pride in our city and our roots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 22 October, 2013 Share Posted 22 October, 2013 That's the bit i don't understand in the slightest, i'm not saying we've never had idols or lost players, but jesus i support my team no matter who plays for it since it's a representation of my city. We don't need idols, we just have pride in our city and our roots. Another thing I don't get is those fans who go depending on who we play. Why? You aren't going to watch the opposition, you're going to support Saints. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearsy Posted 22 October, 2013 Share Posted 22 October, 2013 Another thing I don't get is those fans who go depending on who we play. Why? You aren't going to watch the opposition, you're going to support Saints. pfft it's a bit dull without the opposition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max_saints Posted 23 October, 2013 Share Posted 23 October, 2013 That's the bit i don't understand in the slightest, i'm not saying we've never had idols or lost players, but jesus i support my team no matter who plays for it since it's a representation of my city. We don't need idols, we just have pride in our city and our roots. It's alright, I was just posting in reply to the OP to share my own story. I won't get in your way of your Saints for Southampton people only mentality, have a nice day (: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fitzhugh Fella Posted 23 October, 2013 Share Posted 23 October, 2013 It's alright, I was just posting in reply to the OP to share my own story. I won't get in your way of your Saints for Southampton people only mentality, have a nice day (: Max you go for it - the more the merrier as far as I am concerned. I befriended a young French/Mauritian lad many years ago who married a friend of my wifes. He was football mad and asked if I could take him to the Dell which I did and he became as fervent as me. He lives in SA now but still follows the club with passion. People who were born and live outside the UK are quite entitled to support a club and if that club is Southampton then there is nothing wrong with that in my eyes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHsaintsfan Posted 23 October, 2013 Share Posted 23 October, 2013 On behalf of those fans who don't live near Southampton... I grew up in Farnham and have always supported Saints, lots of classmates in those days were Man U, Liverpool, Leeds, Chelsea plastics. Used to look forward to my Dad getting the Southern Daily Echo on a Saturday evening (for the Saints news) and the rare treat of going to watch the saints. Weekends were ruined if Saints and my youth football team lost! Have since moved further afield Lincolnshire now via Mombasa. The Internet is a wonderful thing to keep up to date when you live away from Southampton - unfortunately you don't get many fans in local pubs able to chat in depth about Saints. My six year old is an avid Saints fan - we manage to get to two or three games a season. When I lived in Africa the only football available to watch is premier league (Terry Paine!) so I understand how so many supporters from abroad come to develop their 'support'. Some of the previous posters comments that to be a supporter you need to be able to either go to majority of matches or actually come from Southampton seems a tad harsh on those unable to do so. Many fans who live away would like nothing better than to live close enough to be able to see the team regularly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 23 October, 2013 Share Posted 23 October, 2013 On behalf of those fans who don't live near Southampton... I grew up in Farnham and have always supported Saints, lots of classmates in those days were Man U, Liverpool, Leeds, Chelsea plastics. Used to look forward to my Dad getting the Southern Daily Echo on a Saturday evening (for the Saints news) and the rare treat of going to watch the saints. Weekends were ruined if Saints and my youth football team lost! Have since moved further afield Lincolnshire now via Mombasa. The Internet is a wonderful thing to keep up to date when you live away from Southampton - unfortunately you don't get many fans in local pubs able to chat in depth about Saints. My six year old is an avid Saints fan - we manage to get to two or three games a season. When I lived in Africa the only football available to watch is premier league (Terry Paine!) so I understand how so many supporters from abroad come to develop their 'support'. Some of the previous posters comments that to be a supporter you need to be able to either go to majority of matches or actually come from Southampton seems a tad harsh on those unable to do so. Many fans who live away would like nothing better than to live close enough to be able to see the team regularly. I live in Staffordshire so know what it's like to be a fair distance away from SMS but I still can't get my head why ANY fan, of ANY club, can support anyone but his hometown team or team that his/her dad/mum/grandparents followed. That's what some of us are saying. Turkish means, and I agree with him, a fan is someone, like yourself, who makes and effort to get to games as regularly as they can. A supporter is someone who could make the effort but CBA and thinks just watching it on MOTD is enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 23 October, 2013 Share Posted 23 October, 2013 What supporting the Saints means to you? What it means to me is not giving a stuff* what people think about my level of 'supportership' and not judging how and why others choose to support/follow the same football team as me. (*apart from bothering enough to post on this thread of course, just to pre-empt the usual wisecracks...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daren W Posted 23 October, 2013 Share Posted 23 October, 2013 This brilliant story popped up on our Facebook page and I thought it was worth sharing(some might disagree). It's written by 18 year old Hong Kong born Kelvin Szeto. He has been in Oz for just over a year for study and recently connected with our Sydney Saints group to watch matches. Like many from his part of the world, Kelvin was originally a supporter of a 'Big 4' team, but thankfully he's now seen the red and white lights. This is his observation from Saturday night and what being a Saints fan means to him: "I dont normally type much as i m not gd at expressing myself. but It was a very meaning game to me and I was very emotional abt the draw... As you may knew , I was an United fans when I was small, until I watched my first live EPL game at St.Mary last November ( as most ppl in HK tended to support Big Clubs). It was a bit weird feeling for me when i was watching saints playing with United which i supported for 10+ years... its kinda weird feeling like u r watching your girlfriend fighting with your ex lol. Back in Nov,2012 , When i first went to the stadium, i didnt feel i m part of the club but after the game , the passion from fans and the players touched me. Afterwards i started to chase for Saints and yes, i m not an experienced saints but i m proud for my choice to be a saints. I was in a sports bar in Sydney with Southampton Australian Supporters Supporters, even we were 1-0 down , i still have full faith in saints and the team proved what we are capable in. we played wonderful team football and our team spirit is awesome. From great saves from King Boruc , how Victor frozen Fellaini and the tackle Morgan to Welbeck to shots made by Adam and lads... It was just awesome team football. We hug and congrats each other after the game , I was so emotional , i feel like i belongs to the club and the reaction i had after game really confirmed it. I never regret my choice for becoming a saints . I wanna thanks the friend of mine who brought me to St Marys and all the fans from Itchen Ends , without them , i wont be who I m . I wish we keep smiling till the end of the season. COYR" Personally, I'm loving life as a Southampton fan at the moment and wouldn't give it up for the world. Having observed all sorts of different supporter groups in Australia, I have a feeling that this recent success means a lot more to us, than it would your typical global Liverpool/Manc/Chelsea fan, which is why I've never been envious of their expected success. It's also why I never get sick of hearing stories of our support from around the world. If anyone feels like sharing their own 'Saints supporter story' I'd love to read it and I'm sure I'm not the only one. Got to love the Aussie fans, the time difference makes watching games kind of tricky... The amount of Aussie photos on Facebook is amazing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deano6 Posted 23 October, 2013 Share Posted 23 October, 2013 Not a dig but for the life of me it makes no sense how people can support a club from a city they've never been to, have no connection to and (probably most importantly) weren't born in. Your football club is quite simply am extension of your pride in your city, the idea that two fans who've never been to either city are gloating about "their" team winning against each other just baffles me. Presumably you don't allow yourself to get engaged with any American sports then? By the way, the kid had been to Southampton before, as he said in his post. He went in Nov 2012 and that is when/why he became a fan / supporter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmel Posted 23 October, 2013 Share Posted 23 October, 2013 Another thing I don't get is those fans who go depending on who we play. Why? You aren't going to watch the opposition, you're going to support Saints. I agree to an extent. Some people go when they can, when work allows, when finances allow etc etc. But for those that do choose based on who we are playing, it tends to be the bigger clubs; mau u chelsea etc..... and that is the bit that I dont get. If i could only make a few matches it would be the palaces, hulls and cardiffs that i would choose, to give me the best chance of seeing Saints win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmel Posted 23 October, 2013 Share Posted 23 October, 2013 DP.... no idea why Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
latter day saint Posted 23 October, 2013 Share Posted 23 October, 2013 I live in Staffordshire so know what it's like to be a fair distance away from SMS but I still can't get my head why ANY fan, of ANY club, can support anyone but his hometown team or team that his/her dad/mum/grandparents followed. That's what some of us are saying. Turkish means, and I agree with him, a fan is someone, like yourself, who makes and effort to get to games as regularly as they can. A supporter is someone who could make the effort but CBA and thinks just watching it on MOTD is enough. i wasn't born in Southampton & none of my family supported Saints untill we moved here when i as 13 but i have been a fan,according to your 2nd paragraph, for the past 25 years. my hometown didn't have a team & i also moved about a bit so had no affinity to a club untill my 1st visit to the Dell where it was love at 1st sight! surely the fact someone chose to support Saints rather than the easy option of glory hunting should be appluaded ? more the merrier, as long as they don't bring drums,foam hands or ballons! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daren W Posted 23 October, 2013 Share Posted 23 October, 2013 It used to matter to me if people went to games etc etc. Nowadays I don't really give a sh1t, as long as you love the Saints that's all that matters to me... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ottery st mary Posted 23 October, 2013 Share Posted 23 October, 2013 Anybody from anywhere is welcome as a Saints supporter. Our team , our club and we are all Saints supporters... COYS:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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