What was the dell like as a stadium?

[kwsaint]

Believe it or not, I was 5 when we moved to SMS so never experienced the saints playing at the Dell. Which got me wondering, what was it like to watch football there?

[Horley CTFC Saint]

Cramped

[hypochondriac]

This thread makes me feel old!

[Ohio Saint]

Horrible little place. But that's what made it great!!

[Saint Charlie]

Pitch was always good. Stands sounded like they would collapse when we scored.

[Son of Bob]

Small, cramped, out-dated but we loved it all the more for it! It was so intimate and the atmosphere could be electric at times. The Milton Terrace in the late 80's was the stuff of legends! Had more character in one seat than St Marys has in a whole stadium. Miss it terribly but we had to move on.

 

It broke my heart seeing it torn down but we simply couldn't sustain a modern football club on 15k attendances.

[Didcot Saint]

It was great at night, tight ground and had a brilliant atmosphere. I started watching us on the Old Milton Road in the Chocolate Boxes and had a Season Ticket in the East Stand bench seats until we moved and got soaked when it rained! Happy Days!

Prefer SMS though, I love our ground.

[david in sweden]

Believe it or not, I was 5 when we moved to SMS so never experienced the saints playing at the Dell. Which got me wondering, what was it like to watch football there?

 

well it was state of the art when built ....over 100 years ago, and SFC were revolutionary in introducing floodlights for evening games sometime after World War Two.

 

However, the finance was never there to make vast improvement and the idea of a new stadium was a pipe dream for over 40 years.

 

As others might say the ground was cramped -when there wasa full house. Uneven terraces in concrete for most of the standing fans , and hard wooden seats for those in the stands. If you were unfortunate to be standing behind one of the many iron girders supporting the stand, you were dry when it rained, but had to look to the left and right of it to follow the game from end to end.

 

but what was it like -----as an arena for football. It was tremendous.

 

The walls alongside the pitch were so close that you could almost reach out and touch a player taking a throw in and taking a corner meant the kicker had his back against the wall in front of the crowd.

 

The acoustics seemed to be the greatest attribute and a crowd of 20,000 could sound like double, and with fans singing when the Saints go marching in it would echo around the ground and could be heard a mile away with the wind in the right direction.

 

Visiting players said they feared the ground, because it was a so compact and intimidating when the crowd got going, and Lawrie McMenemy said the crowd were worth a goal start.

 

I wouldn't wish back there because I love SMS, but there was something about the Dell ....with its singing fans and closeness to the pitch that the new stadium lacks abit...but like changing managers .....it's nice to have good memories, but the reality of the ground today is good, too.

 

maybe in ten years time .....someone will ask ....." what was St.Mary's like before the extension was built ...when the capacity was only 32,000 ? "

[Whitey Grandad]

We were upper East Stand centre. Best view of the game anywhere in the world. Sad to leave but we couldn't stay there.

[B Rabbit]

Did a nice panoramic once from my Archers Road seat... so there

 

​

[sandwichsaint]

Pitch was always good. Stands sounded like they would collapse when we scored.

 

Are you sure?

 

Too young for the 'sand injections' that rendered it like Brighton beach for the remainder of the season (late 70's/early 8's?)?

 

Saw some real old-fashioned mud baths there, Blackool home in the FA Cup, Brian O'Neill ploughing imperiously through ankle deep mud without the oppo getting anywhere near him.

 

(TBFthe Delll often had an excellent playing surface)

[Whitey Grandad]

Did a nice panoramic once from my Archers Road seat... so there

 

​

 

Very nice. Out of interest, who is the subject of the next photo?

[bridge too far]

I loved going there with my dad when I was a little girl. Always the Milton Road end.

[SNSUN]

Never made it into The Dell either, nobody else in my family is a Saints fan so as a youngster I never got taken there (except for a couple of trips to the club shop which I loved despite its size), and by the time I was old enough to go myself I'd developed a mild case of agoraphobia, which made me nervous of being in places with large groups of people. (I partly blame Reading's old ground Elm Park for that, which I did visit in the 90's when we played them in the FA Cup, 1997. Anyway my first live Saints game and first time I'd been in a stadium full of people. Did not feel comfortable.) I soon got over that, but by then we were at SMS. :-(

[John Boy Saint]

You could smell the players!!

Frank Worthington first evening game back in the top league he was then playing for Bolton slid out of play in front of the Milton Road wall when he got up inches from the fans the smell embrocation oil was immense. Oooo I just smelt it then!

 

When you are in the Chapel or the Northam behind the goals and you see the signs "Beware of flying balls" at the Dell there was no room for a sign! My mate was holding court being a bit cocky sat on the wall as the players were kicking in before the game, BANG Phil Boyer lights one my mate is suddenly sat on a heap on the floor, and all us nippers are almost wetting ourselves with laughter. Even Phil had a grin on his face.

[buctootim]

Did a nice panoramic once from my Archers Road seat... so there

 

​

 

Nice picture, but it makes it look so much bigger than it was.

[Saint Charlie]

Are you sure?

 

Too young for the 'sand injections' that rendered it like Brighton beach for the remainder of the season (late 70's/early 8's?)?

 

Saw some real old-fashioned mud baths there, Blackool home in the FA Cup, Brian O'Neill ploughing imperiously through ankle deep mud without the oppo getting anywhere near him.

 

(TBFthe Delll often had an excellent playing surface)

 

Yeah too young for that, but excellent surface in the 90s.

[OldNick]

From the age of 8 It was the most magical place for me. The dream of playing there was engulfing. Sadly my talent was overlooked. The excitement walking to a night game is something that is impossible to describe.

[lifeintheslowlane]

Let's get this straight...it was never a stadium, it was a good old fashioned football ground. Two not so grandstands on either side with nothing much at one end (ArchersRoad) and a couple of concrete boxes on stilts, (Milton Road) at the other. If you were a kid you stood behind one of the goals for one shilling and sixpence and if it rained you got wet.

 

The pitch was a quagmire when it rained until the early '70s when they cut slits in it and filled them with sand...making, not much difference. The crowd was intimidating because if you reached out you could touch the players...it was a cauldron of noise because you were shouting in their ears. Big clubs hated playing there because of the atmosphere and were regularly turned-over. The toilets were third-world primeval and the catering a cup of hot Bovril.

 

It was a fantastic place that on a good day raised the hair on the back of your neck and the fear of God in the opposition...I loved every squalid minute I spent in the place. I was on the pitch at the end of the final game digging up the turf from the spot where Matt swivelled to smash the final goal in a competitive game.

 

You really missed something.

Edited 10 November, 2013 by lifeintheslowlane

[aintforever]

It was great because you could shout at the players and they could hear you and sometimes shout back. I remember some great banter, players like Neil Ruddock and Ian Wright always had something to say.

[B Rabbit]

Very nice. Out of interest, who is the subject of the next photo?

 

Long time ago.....

[OldNick]

From the age of 8 It was the most magical place for me. The dream of playing there was engulfing. Sadly my talent was overlooked. The excitement walking to a night game is something that is impossible to describe.

 

Let's get this straight...it was never a stadium, it was a good old fashioned football ground. Two not so grandstands on either side with nothing much at one end (ArchersRoad) and a couple of concrete boxes on stilts, (Milton Road) at the other. If you were a kid you stood behind one of the goals for one shilling and sixpence and if it rained you got wet.

 

The pitch was a quagmire when it rained until the early '70s when they cut slits in it and filled them with sand...making, not much difference. The crowd was intimidating because if you reached out you could touch the players...it was a cauldron of noise because you were shouting in their ears. Big clubs hated playing there because of the atmosphere and were regularly turned-over. The toilets were third-world primeval and the catering a cup of hot Bovril.

 

It was a fantastic place that on a good day raised the hair on the back of your neck and the fear of God in the opposition...I loved every squalid minute I spent in the place. I was on the pitch at the end of the final game digging up the turf from the spot where Matt swivelled to smash the final goal in a competitive game.

 

You really missed something.

Silly little things stick in the mind from those days. It was quite a thing when we had goalnets that were red and white instead of the all black that had the way for ever. That was very modern and progressive lol. the Albion band ,the RAF dog displays, the little club shop in the car park that only sold the odd badge, rosettes and scarves. What a revelation when the bright new shop opened in the Milton road in the 80s ?

Edited 10 November, 2013 by OldNick

[DJ_TOAST]

It was great because you could shout at the players and they could hear you and sometimes shout back. I remember some great banter, players like Neil Ruddock and Ian Wright always had something to say.

 

Yeah loved that, used to sit in the Junior Saints section and we were all abusing Beckham one time as he took a throw and he could obviously hear us and pulled his shorts into his ass and mooned at us.

[John Boy Saint]

Silly little things stick in the mind from those days. It was quite a thing when we had goalnets that were red and white instead of the all black that had the way for ever. That was very modern and progressive lol. the Albion band ,the RAF dog displays, the little club shop in the car park that only sold the odd badge, rosettes and scarves. What a revaluation when the bright new shop opened in the Milton road in the 80s ?

My Granny reckoned that I spent enough pocket money in there to have bought a player!

[adrian lord]

Incredibly intense atmosphere. More so even at night matches, the League Cup run that led to Wembley stands out for those especially - beating Man City 2-1, and then Leeds in the semi final.

[70's Mike]

When it was mainly terrace except Upper West and East Stands, you were lucky if you could see all the pitch.Toilets were cr*p, getting a drink took hours.When they introduced seats all round it changed. All of a sudden you had to get organized to sit with mates you had stood with for years.

Life was so different we put up with terrible conditions and facilities but it was the norm.

Home games could start for big games from 10am when the Haymarket opened until 11 at night when the last bus left town

[Whitey Grandad]

Don't forget the half-time entertainment.

[Toomer]

When it was mainly terrace except Upper West and East Stands, you were lucky if you could see all the pitch.Toilets were cr*p, getting a drink took hours.When they introduced seats all round it changed. All of a sudden you had to get organized to sit with mates you had stood with for years.

Life was so different we put up with terrible conditions and facilities but it was the norm.

Home games could start for big games from 10am when the Haymarket opened until 11 at night when the last bus left town

 

The heart and soul of The Dell went when they made it all seater all though at my age I could not stand for over an hour under the Toomers I still miss it in a funny way.

[Sour Mash]

Let's get this straight...it was never a stadium, it was a good old fashioned football ground. Two not so grandstands on either side with nothing much at one end (ArchersRoad) and a couple of concrete boxes on stilts, (Milton Road) at the other. If you were a kid you stood behind one of the goals for one shilling and sixpence and if it rained you got wet.

 

The pitch was a quagmire when it rained until the early '70s when they cut slits in it and filled them with sand...making, not much difference. The crowd was intimidating because if you reached out you could touch the players...it was a cauldron of noise because you were shouting in their ears. Big clubs hated playing there because of the atmosphere and were regularly turned-over. The toilets were third-world primeval and the catering a cup of hot Bovril.

 

It was a fantastic place that on a good day raised the hair on the back of your neck and the fear of God in the opposition...I loved every squalid minute I spent in the place. I was on the pitch at the end of the final game digging up the turf from the spot where Matt swivelled to smash the final goal in a competitive game.

 

You really missed something.

Pretty much this, well summed up.

[swannymere]

Intimidating for opposition players, remember Roy Keane being taken off once after the crowd got on his back.

[rooney]

Pitch was always good. Stands sounded like they would collapse when we scored.

Not in the late 50's & 60's. The side close to the players entrance was always a bog in the winter because it never got any sun!.

[rooney]

Pitch was always good. Stands sounded like they would collapse when we scored.

Not in the late 50's & 60's. The side close to the players entrance was always a bog in the winter because it never got any sun!.

[mulletsaint]

Believe it or not, I was 5 when we moved to SMS so never experienced the saints playing at the Dell. Which got me wondering, what was it like to watch football there?

 

Ever been to Selhurst Park? Kinda like a bad version of that. Caged away fans at one end, weird wedge stand at the other. Absolutely loved every match I went to. Atmosphere was amazing.

[Hatch]

I feel sorry for anyone who has never experienced the Dell.

 

Difficult to explain how much more magical it was.

 

But then again I am a lot older and more grumpier now so maybe nostalgia makes me blind.

[ottery st mary]

From young boy to middle aged man...the Dell was my second home.

 

Brilliant memories.

[Barry Sanchez]

Brilliant, amazing and the atmosphere was superb, Under East, Milton and Archers, great memories and only wish I was there in the 70's and early 80's when it must have been amazing.

[OldNick]

Watching the fighting under the stands and on the Milton etcetera was always part of the match day experience. Not a case of a couple having a Barney because they were unhappy as a fan was leaving early,but mass fighting between rival fans. It was naive how the clubs and authorities dealt with it in those days. Pit was a period in time when young men had money to go to away games in groups and so the rival gangs would face up on the terraces.

[ericofarabia]

Let's get this straight...it was never a stadium, it was a good old fashioned football ground. Two not so grandstands on either side with nothing much at one end (ArchersRoad) and a couple of concrete boxes on stilts, (Milton Road) at the other. If you were a kid you stood behind one of the goals for one shilling and sixpence and if it rained you got wet.

 

The pitch was a quagmire when it rained until the early '70s when they cut slits in it and filled them with sand...making, not much difference. The crowd was intimidating because if you reached out you could touch the players...it was a cauldron of noise because you were shouting in their ears. Big clubs hated playing there because of the atmosphere and were regularly turned-over. The toilets were third-world primeval and the catering a cup of hot Bovril.

 

It was a fantastic place that on a good day raised the hair on the back of your neck and the fear of God in the opposition...I loved every squalid minute I spent in the place. I was on the pitch at the end of the final game digging up the turf from the spot where Matt swivelled to smash the final goal in a competitive game.

 

You really missed something.

 

Just about on the money.

 

Mid week evening kick offs, especially Cup Matches such as LC beating Div Champs Derby County 5-0, WBA FA Cup Relay 76, Bolton FA CUp Replay Barry Horne screamers etc and league games such as Ossies debut v Leicester and Newcastle 0-1 to 3-1 in the last 4 minutes really were spine tingling special moments.

 

As much as I loved the old girl, one of my proudest moments was walking into SMS for the 1st League game v Chelsea and thinking wow we've finally arrived in the big time.

[Professor]

Apart from the Archers Road end with the concrete boxes, I thought the ground looked adequate for Division One and later The Prem as the two matching 2-tier stands were better than a lot of other clubs but it was before grounds were redeveloped for all-seating. Prior to all=seating at The Dell, which reduced capacity to just over 15,000 I had been in the ground as part of a 30,000 crowd. But it wasn't only the ground that was small, it was the pitch as well with the edges of the penalty area quite close to the side touchlines. Always seemed to me that Saints were good at playing a close passing game because the pitch was so small they had to.

[kwsaint]

Believe it or not, I was 5 when we moved to SMS so never experienced the saints playing at the Dell. Which got me wondering, what was it like to watch football there?

 

What kwsaint junior did not mention was that his 5th birthday party coincided with the last game at the Dell. I did what felt like the right thing at the time and passed on my ticket to a friend. So never actually saw MLTs goal live. Needless to say I have never let him forget it.

[ecuk268]

Watching the fighting under the stands and on the Milton etcetera was always part of the match day experience. Not a case of a couple having a Barney because they were unhappy as a fan was leaving early,but mass fighting between rival fans. It was naive how the clubs and authorities dealt with it in those days. Pit was a period in time when young men had money to go to away games in groups and so the rival gangs would face up on the terraces.

 

The Old Bill seemed to take great delight in wading into the Milton and dishing out a good battering to anyone who came into reach.

[Saint J 77]

Celebrating goals there was always fun! I remember standing in the Milton end and ending up rows away from my friends every time Saints scored. The fans Singing "Lets go **** ing mental!" , and we certainly did that

[OldNick]

The Old Bill seemed to take great delight in wading into the Milton and dishing out a good battering to anyone who came into reach.

 

Can you imagine it on here if the Saintsweb was around then? We have threads about 2blokes having handbags but those days!!, I do think the old bill enjoyed it

[Turkish]

A proper old football ground, great memories of queuing up to get in when the terraces opened at 1.30, my £6 a week paper round money got me a bus to and from town, £2 entry to the milton, a copy of the ugly inside or on the March fanzine and a bag of chips of mcdonalds before going home. Many a Saturday afternoon stood in the cold or pouring rain getting soaked. The atmosphere was fantastic at times and being bundled down the terrace after a goal, ending up 10 rows in front of where you started was brilliant. Remember the excitement when me and a few of the lads from school decided to go and stand with the lads at he back of the Milton under the family centre for the first time. As others have said it was night games when it was really special, a great place to grow up watching football.

[Viking Warrior]

Toilets were phish . The noise was tremendous when we really got going . The fitzhugh arms pre match and the pensioners post match beer made for a good afternoon out . There's lots of positives about the dell even if it was on its last legs

[OldNick]

A proper old football ground, great memories of queuing up to get in when the terraces opened at 1.30, my £6 a week paper round money got me a bus to and from town, £2 entry to the milton, a copy of the ugly inside or on the March fanzine and a bag of chips of mcdonalds before going home. Many a Saturday afternoon stood in the cold or pouring rain getting soaked. The atmosphere was fantastic at times and being bundled down the terrace after a goal, ending up 10 rows in front of where you started was brilliant. Remember the excitement when me and a few of the lads from school decided to go and stand with the lads at he back of the Milton under the family centre for the first time. As others have said it was night games when it was really special, a great place to grow up watching football.

When was that? It must have been the early 80s. If you were getting 6 quid a week paper money ,you must have been delivering to Sandbanks and Kensington lol

[offix]

well it was state of the art when built ....over 100 years ago, and SFC were revolutionary in introducing floodlights for evening games sometime after World War Two.

 

However, the finance was never there to make vast improvement and the idea of a new stadium was a pipe dream for over 40 years.

 

As others might say the ground was cramped -when there wasa full house. Uneven terraces in concrete for most of the standing fans , and hard wooden seats for those in the stands. If you were unfortunate to be standing behind one of the many iron girders supporting the stand, you were dry when it rained, but had to look to the left and right of it to follow the game from end to end.

 

but what was it like -----as an arena for football. It was tremendous.

 

The walls alongside the pitch were so close that you could almost reach out and touch a player taking a throw in and taking a corner meant the kicker had his back against the wall in front of the crowd.

 

The acoustics seemed to be the greatest attribute and a crowd of 20,000 could sound like double, and with fans singing when the Saints go marching in it would echo around the ground and could be heard a mile away with the wind in the right direction.

 

Visiting players said they feared the ground, because it was a so compact and intimidating when the crowd got going, and Lawrie McMenemy said the crowd were worth a goal start.

 

I wouldn't wish back there because I love SMS, but there was something about the Dell ....with its singing fans and closeness to the pitch that the new stadium lacks abit...but like changing managers .....it's nice to have good memories, but the reality of the ground today is good, too.

 

maybe in ten years time .....someone will ask ....." what was St.Mary's like before the extension was built ...when the capacity was only 32,000 ? "

 

Made me quite nostalgic this.

[Turkish]

When was that? It must have been the early 80s. If you were getting 6 quid a week paper money ,you must have been delivering to Sandbanks and Kensington lol

 

89/90 season was when I first started going in my own. Used to do a paper round for a shop at Bitterne triangle, get my money Saturday morning and spend it up the Dell that afternoon, good times.

[Mattio]

I went a few times as my sister worked hospitality but I barely remember it to be honest, I remember walking round the pitch once but that's it, shame as I'd love to have some proper memories of the place but sadly not quite old enough/ wasn't into football enough when I was 13

[Batman]

loved paying £2 as a kid to get in the milton