Questions regarding first Saints matches

[USA SaintsFan]

Hi all,

 

After just under 4 years supporting Saints, I am finally going to make the 5000+ mile trip to watch us play. I will hopefully be attending three matches throughout the holiday period, Boxing Day vs Tottenham, Dec 31 vs WBA, and Jan 2 at Everton. I had a few questions I was hoping some of you could answer...

 

1) Where would you recommend I should sit? I would like to sit/stand in the most vocal part of the stands. Northam or Kingsland North maybe?

 

2) Will it be hard for me to get tickets to the Tottenham game, because it is a class A fixture? Are there requirements to attend that match, or Everton away? I presume WBA at home will not be much of an issue.

 

3) Do you recommend Saints Away Travel? Or perhaps another service?

 

Thanks,

 

Eli

[Gemmel]

I think if you contacted the club, they would make sure you got tickets, failing that I am sure the posters on here can help you out.

[Oldeuboi]

I'm a ST holder in the Northam and would say the atmosphere there is best. Anywhere from halfway up in blocks 42/41/40 is good. Kingsland/Northam corner is also decent but my only experiences there have been cup games where most of the Northam has been closed off to accommodate away fans.

 

Itchen/North Corner is apparently quite good as you're right next to the Away fans. Never been in the corner though so someone else may have a better idea of what it's like.

[Saint Garrett]

Great to see you're making the trip!

 

Would recommend either the Northam/Kingsland North Corner, probably from rows AA backwards, the view is as its best about 3/4 of the way up.

 

Can't imagine you should have a problem getting tickets, however I would definitely contact the club in advance, I'm sure they'd be very accommodating for you. Might even be able to sort an added extra or two out as they may want to do some media around it.

 

Hope you have a great time and we get 3 wins while you're here.

[spyinthesky]

I do hope you are able to bring us the success the Aussie fan did a season or two back when he came over for his first game...8-0 v Sunderland!!

[Dangermouth]

I'd definitely contact the club early if I were you. It would be horrible to come all that way and not get a ticket (you probably would, but ...) and there might be the chance of some extra hospitality from them perhaps. Who knows, you might even end up in the programme or something.

[RoswellSaint]

It doesn't guarantee you a ticket but if you become a member, you should get a ticket to both home games. Given the cost of flying over, the cost of membership is relatively small. Not sure it is that unusual now for the club to have fans coming from the USA.

[Pamplemousse]

I personally prefer the Itchen North, I quite like the banter between home and away fans. You can also get some spectacular photos of the sunset with the church spire in the background. But if you want to be where the most vocal fans sit, then the Northam is the best area to go.

 

Boxing Day games are always popular no matter who the opposition is, so you may have trouble with that match. West Brom is unlikely to be a problem. Not sure about Everton, but if you were really desperate you could probably sit in the home end. I doubt they'd ask any questions seeing as you're not from Southampton.

[USA SaintsFan]

Thanks for the advice! I talked with the club, about a month ago, and they assured me that I will have the opportunity to get tickets to the Boxing Day match. If I have any trouble, I will make to sure to contact them again.

[for_heaven's_Saint]

I definitely wouldn't recommend Saints official travel club to get to away games. Not if you want the true away day experience anyway. If I were you I'd be getting the train. That way you can travel with lots of other fans, drink on the way and way back if you want to, and will have plenty of time to go the pub before the game. Will you be staying in Southampton while you're here?

[The9]

Worth noting that the trains might be a little... less than regular on New Year's Eve and certainly the replacement Bank Holiday date of Monday 2nd January. The Official Travel club seems like being kept prisoner in a sweaty dorm to me, but I can't say I've ever used it.

 

FWIW I'd say anywhere from Blocks 39-42 (or 43 next to the away fans if it's on sale to home fans), or Blocks 1-3 are comfortably the best atmosphere. Anywhere else is a lot quieter.

 

I'd also suggest getting a membership and sorting out an online login before the onsale date - you'll then get the chance to buy at the exact same time as every other member for the home games and as ST holders already have their tickets you're jointly at the front of the queue irrespective of Category - the only difference is that there will be a lot of others trying to buy at the same time so you'll have a bit of a wait. Oh, and the tickets generally go on sale at 9am, which is 4am EST which could be a bit of a problem.

 

The Spurs game being on Boxing Day will be heavily subscribed just because a lot of people will be home for Christmas, but again, paying for membership puts you on a level playing field as far as buying a ticket for home games.

 

Given the travel distances, collecting the tickets from the ticket office might be a better option than posting them out - don't know if "print at home" is available to you?

 

In terms of aways, they tend to depend on previous attendance so you might not be able to get a ticket for Everton (which has a terrible view due to being a very old-school classic English ground). It will probably be a popular one as well due to Koeman, but the date the day after New Year but before the first day back to work might put some people off.

 

There's also the possibility ANY of those games could be moved for tv yet.

[RoswellSaint]

I had no trouble getting tickets for my children and myself for Boxing Day last year as a member and that was for Arsenal. I am wondering if you need some kind of purchase history though - I have been buying tickets online for years. Also I had no trouble with Everton away a couple of seasons ago. They went to general sale that year but it wasn't during a holiday period and no Koeman factor! I will be over again and in competition for tickets with you, USA SaintsFan!