spyinthesky Posted 4 February, 2009 Posted 4 February, 2009 Those supporters who have only followed Saints for a short time eg from 2003 and beyond. I have been a supporter since the old Third Div South days so started at the bottom and worked up. I have seen some wonderful performances, some great players and, of course, some difficult times. The 7-1 defeat at Watford was comparatively the worst altho we all knew this was a one off. And I have never seen Saints beaten against Pompey, except on the TV However the good days far outweighed the bad. Now it seems to be continual decline. If it wasnt for the good memories I would have given up by now. This is certainly the worst performing side I have ever seen and my sympathies go out to those who dont have the good times to fall back on. I will be there next year but in body not spirit.
Deanovski Posted 4 February, 2009 Posted 4 February, 2009 im 18 and have supported saints propely for 4 years=[
Dibden Purlieu Saint Posted 4 February, 2009 Posted 4 February, 2009 Those supporters who have only followed Saints for a short time eg from 2003 and beyond. I have been a supporter since the old Third Div South days so started at the bottom and worked up. I have seen some wonderful performances, some great players and, of course, some difficult times. The 7-1 defeat at Watford was comparatively the worst altho we all knew this was a one off. And I have never seen Saints beaten against Pompey, except on the TV However the good days far outweighed the bad. Now it seems to be continual decline. If it wasnt for the good memories I would have given up by now. This is certainly the worst performing side I have ever seen and my sympathies go out to those who dont have the good times to fall back on. I will be there next year but in body not spirit. I've supported properly since '97, used to go to the odd games with my dad but he's a Leeds fan so it used to be corporate (or as corporate as you could get at the Dell). However, I met my girlfriend May 2004. Since then the club has just gone downhill. I blame her a little. Or is this just a classic example of unrelated correlation?
Saint_Jonny Posted 4 February, 2009 Posted 4 February, 2009 2004/2005 and on ive been "hardcore". Don't feel sorry for me and those like me, even the smallest amount of success feels like a cup win to me. Highlight of my saints supporting years is derby away in the play offs. And staying up last season. Great eh?
spyinthesky Posted 4 February, 2009 Author Posted 4 February, 2009 Johnny Well done. It actually bucks me up to hear such a positive post in such difficult times. Actually when I think back to my early (school) days as a Saints supporter it was the looking forward to the game that was the best thing. Results were important but expectation levels were low at the time. Suppose the real disappointment now is falling away from a relatively high level of achievement.
SimonRichards Posted 4 February, 2009 Posted 4 February, 2009 Have been following/supporting Saints for 20 years. My kids have been coming to watch them since 2004 and have never seen premiership football and probably wont for a long long time. In fact they wont go anymore due to the lack of goals/wins. I actually use the threat "if you don't behave i'll take you to the football". Worse that sending them to their rooms etc
saints_is_the_south Posted 4 February, 2009 Posted 4 February, 2009 Im 19 & whilst being a Saints fan all my life, I've only had a season ticket for the last 3 seasons & been going to games regularly since the cup final season. My biggest regret is not going to more games back then, although I'm glad to say i was at the two derby wins in the 03/04 season
lee_saint Posted 4 February, 2009 Posted 4 February, 2009 Watched the team all the way through the 90's. Up until 2005, I'd only seen the club in the top flight. Saying that, I've been to watch Carlisle a few times due to mates, if we do go down we have a good chance of doing alright, some of the teams in League One are awful!
sidthesquid Posted 4 February, 2009 Posted 4 February, 2009 My son is in this category. He's fifteen now and has only had a season ticket since we went down. (I go back to 1970 and saw the glory days). He'd like to be a Liverpool fan, really, but his Victorian father makes him suffer and suffer and suffer some more. I tell him it's character building and he'll thank me when he's older, but I don't think he's convinced
GeckoSaint Posted 4 February, 2009 Posted 4 February, 2009 I actually use the threat "if you don't behave i'll take you to the football". Worse that sending them to their rooms etc That threat has also been used in my household. I got into Saints/footie around 86, so you could pretty much describe me as a glory hunter!!
Legod Third Coming Posted 4 February, 2009 Posted 4 February, 2009 I still wouldn't swap it. If you get kicked in the goolies for 40 years and then have a day off, that day off is like Jesus came down and carried you off for a beer with him, Elvis, John Lennon, JFK, Marilyn and Churchill and then let you sit around paradise for an afternoon shooting the breeze and basically living like a Lord. That's how wins feel these days.
benjii Posted 4 February, 2009 Posted 4 February, 2009 I have had the same thoughts as the original poster many times on seeing young'uns at matches this season. Poor bilghters.
beancounter saint Posted 4 February, 2009 Posted 4 February, 2009 I love this thread. What a nice change from the misery on 95% of the others. I think there's enough genuine misery in the world without creating more out of what is, at the end of the day, just a game!!
rocknrollman no2 Posted 4 February, 2009 Posted 4 February, 2009 If we ever win at home again,can someone remind me how to celebrate?Its been so long,i cant remember.
dubsaint Posted 4 February, 2009 Posted 4 February, 2009 Those supporters who have only followed Saints for a short time eg from 2003 and beyond. I have been a supporter since the old Third Div South days so started at the bottom and worked up. I have seen some wonderful performances, some great players and, of course, some difficult times. The 7-1 defeat at Watford was comparatively the worst altho we all knew this was a one off. And I have never seen Saints beaten against Pompey, except on the TV However the good days far outweighed the bad. Now it seems to be continual decline. If it wasnt for the good memories I would have given up by now. This is certainly the worst performing side I have ever seen and my sympathies go out to those who dont have the good times to fall back on. I will be there next year but in body not spirit. Supported Saints since 1974 and this is the saddest i felt re. our team
Saints Fan Dan Posted 4 February, 2009 Posted 4 February, 2009 I'm 18 and have been a Saints fan for 11 years, so I've seen some great times such as The Great Escape 98/99, FA Cup Final 02/03, beating Pompey. However, I always envy the fans who saw them win the Cup in 76, I always think had we won it in 2003, at least in these dark times I can say, "well at least I've seen them win something".
rpb Posted 4 February, 2009 Posted 4 February, 2009 I have been a supporter since the old Third Div South days so started at the bottom and worked up. Same here and we still enjoyed our football down in the depths - I think that these things are cyclical and we will rise again (I just hope I'll still be around to see it!)
Saint_clark Posted 4 February, 2009 Posted 4 February, 2009 im 18 and have supported saints propely for 4 years=[ Ditto. We must be cursed. :smt022
SaintNeil90 Posted 4 February, 2009 Posted 4 February, 2009 I'm 18 and have been a Saints fan for 11 years, so I've seen some great times such as The Great Escape 98/99, FA Cup Final 02/03, beating Pompey. However, I always envy the fans who saw them win the Cup in 76, I always think had we won it in 2003, at least in these dark times I can say, "well at least I've seen them win something". Sums my experience up too.
West End Saint Posted 5 February, 2009 Posted 5 February, 2009 Been supporting Saints 1974 my Dad started taking me when I was 7 I just loved going to football my Dad still comes with us now home & away and despite the sh1te we are in at the moment we still love going football even these last couple of seasons we have had some great days out Wolves away Derby play offs Sheff utd last game of the season and lots lots more. For us it is a day out with the lads we enjoy the banter and make a day of it it is so much better when we win but even when we dont it is better than going shopping. UTS
BadgerBadger Posted 5 February, 2009 Posted 5 February, 2009 I've always supported the SAINTS but not until the move to the new stadium did I start going to games a s a member and a year later it was a season ticket and has been since. Now for me I see the current goings on a a rite of passage for me a s a SAINTS fan as I've had it pretty good since I started going to the games.
NunoSaint Posted 5 February, 2009 Posted 5 February, 2009 I've supported properly since '97, used to go to the odd games with my dad but he's a Leeds fan so it used to be corporate (or as corporate as you could get at the Dell). However, I met my girlfriend May 2004. Since then the club has just gone downhill. I blame her a little. Or is this just a classic example of unrelated correlation? I’ve been watch Saints since 1991. Not exactly the glories years of the late 70s and early 80’s but there were plenty of enjoyable and rewarding times. That was until Dec 03. We had just beaten P****y 3-0 and were sitting 4th in the Prem (happy days!!) and then I started going out with my girlfriend, and the downward spiral began. Related or unrelated – I blame her a lot
treggs23 Posted 5 February, 2009 Posted 5 February, 2009 I've supported properly since '97, used to go to the odd games with my dad but he's a Leeds fan so it used to be corporate (or as corporate as you could get at the Dell). However, I met my girlfriend May 2004. Since then the club has just gone downhill. I blame her a little. Or is this just a classic example of unrelated correlation? I met mine in June 2004, and was beginning to think the same...
Dimond Geezer Posted 5 February, 2009 Posted 5 February, 2009 I’ve been a Saints supporter since 1976 after the FA cup win, (a true glory boy, mind you, I was eight) , I’ve been a ‘fan’ since about 1979 when I attended my first game, (a friendly against Vancouver White Caps) going regularly from about 1981ish. I’ve been privileged to see some fantastic football & some legendary players (and over used word now days, but perfectly apt for the likes of Keegan, Ball, Shilton, Worthington, MLT etc.). My oldest son first saw SFC in 2002, when I would pick & choose games for him to attend, he loved it, the first defeat he saw was the FA Cup final, at least he has seen some prem football & some talented & well known players (not just saints but opposition players also). My youngest son has only known CCC football, having a season ticket for the last 2 years, he’s bored, only generally known defeats & misery. He doesn’t want to watch SFC anymore & who can blame him, when his mates support Chelsea, Man U etc. I fear that SFC may be loosing a whole generation of supporters, and it really saddens me that my boys will probably not see top class football and experience the joy & excitement that I had when I was their age. Christ, typing this has made me feel really depressed, :smt022 I’m off to the Itchen Bridge, there’s a phone number for the Samaritans somewhere up there.
buctootim Posted 5 February, 2009 Posted 5 February, 2009 I met my girlfriend May 2004. Since then the club has just gone downhill. I blame her a little. Or is this just a classic example of unrelated correlation? I love that! Deals with half the posts on this forum in one sentence.
Spanner MkIII Posted 5 February, 2009 Posted 5 February, 2009 I've followed the club since the late 1970's, spending late 1980's never missing a game home and away. Now I've got a career and family so I pick and choose when I go to football, I seriously believe now under the current club affairs to be a wise decision.
Window Cleaner Posted 5 February, 2009 Posted 5 February, 2009 I love that! Deals with half the posts on this forum in one sentence. Still it wouldn't do any harm for him to give her the push to see if it changes anything.;);)
saint-crinny Posted 5 February, 2009 Posted 5 February, 2009 My first game was as a 7-year-old against ipswich at the Dell in 1993. Got me hooked and it's still one of my favourite games ever. 3 goals in the last 5 minutes, le tiss hitting last minute winner to win it 4-3, and I proudly went home and told my mum that the ref was a w***er! Been some great games since then, always remember some cracking results at selhurst park against wimbledon, and Pahars curler vs Pompey, and some dire ones too - 7-2 at spurs was a particular disaster. Just rambling really, but I'd rather do that than chat abour what's going on right now!
St Landrew Posted 5 February, 2009 Posted 5 February, 2009 I also feel sorry for the younger ones. There's got to be some advantage in being older. Since 1966-67, I've been accused being a fair weather supporter, a glory hunter; latterly, a plastic fan, you name it. But for me, only one football club exists -SFC. So you can add blinkered to the accusations.
brightspark Posted 5 February, 2009 Posted 5 February, 2009 One of my earlier memories of Saints is the Pahars double to keep us up against Everton. Remember being told by a fan that Wednesday had scored against Charlton, the crowd cheering as Everton were about to take a throw in. Jason Dodd was one of the players who acknowledged the crowd, and he knew exactly what it meant. It was a great moment. I saw Le Tissier at the Dell, most of the 2003 cup run including the final, Norwich 4-3 (which was a great great game) and also I think Southend 4-1 all stack up to be good memories. At the moment, things are sh*t. But since 1998 that I became aware I was a Saints fan, its generally been a positive experience. It needs to turn around soon though, otherwise the good memories will be distant things and you will wish all your life what would have happened if we hadn't let in 2 goals in the last 2 minutes against Middlesbrough, or if Fletcher had tripped up before tucking away that header.
rallyboy Posted 5 February, 2009 Posted 5 February, 2009 feel the guilt!! We have cursed our children to fifty years of red and white hurt! Maybe it would have been kinder to give them a Man Utd shirt or a crack pipe instead of taking them to The Dell.... And as an aside, I know a bloke who came with us to the cup semi final at Highbury and was a regular Dell supporter in the 80s - last sighted as a Pompey season ticket holder cos it was cheaper to take the kids! Now that is a proper glory hunter, like one of my neighbours who has been sighted wearing a Pompey shirt ONCE and only once. Not cup final day, no that was risky as they might lose, he got a shirt on for the open top bus trip, and his shirt has never been seen since as he doesn't go, just wanted to leap on a band-caravan. At least a handful of their fans followed them round the football backwaters in the 70s, which will be handy as they will be able to find their way round them again in the next couple of years. Keep the faith and keep cursing your children.
scott_saints Posted 5 February, 2009 Posted 5 February, 2009 I'm 20 but thankfully started supporting them "properly" at a very young age. Even at 10 years old I was going to games on my own (being dropped off and picked up). So luckily for me, I've seen enough good times and premiership days. Not that I care though. I'm more than happy supporting Saints when they're s**t and am looking forward to telling everyone "I was there when we were s**t" in years to come.
saint1977 Posted 5 February, 2009 Posted 5 February, 2009 I do feel sorry for the younger fans but better times will come, even if there's some more pain first. I first went in the early 80s so my expectation levels were probably set too high for the rest of my Saints-supporting life! What they are missing out on is the collective spirit of the club and it's supporters and you only need to go back a few years, not 30, to see it. The tension of the 90s relegation battles, the genuine family atmosphere of the 80s. We were very difficult to beat at home and even in 2004/5, we still didn't lose that many games but were wretched away from home. Selhurst in 1999 was what I'm describing at it's very best. The atmosphere in the last 4 or 5 years has been not pleasant and I don't blame people for not wanting to take families.
mikec Posted 5 February, 2009 Posted 5 February, 2009 I've been going since the late 60's - just after the 1st promotion to Division 1. In my first game we beat WBA 4-0 with the scorers being Chivers(2), Davies and Paine. My second game was the 1-5 defeat to Leicester when Peter Shilton scored against us. I suppose those 2 games just about sums up what it's been like supporting Saints over the years.
spyinthesky Posted 5 February, 2009 Author Posted 5 February, 2009 I’ve been a Saints supporter since 1976 after the FA cup win, (a true glory boy, mind you, I was eight) , I’ve been a ‘fan’ since about 1979 when I attended my first game, (a friendly against Vancouver White Caps) going regularly from about 1981ish. I’ve been privileged to see some fantastic football & some legendary players (and over used word now days, but perfectly apt for the likes of Keegan, Ball, Shilton, Worthington, MLT etc.). My oldest son first saw SFC in 2002, when I would pick & choose games for him to attend, he loved it, the first defeat he saw was the FA Cup final, at least he has seen some prem football & some talented & well known players (not just saints but opposition players also). My youngest son has only known CCC football, having a season ticket for the last 2 years, he’s bored, only generally known defeats & misery. He doesn’t want to watch SFC anymore & who can blame him, when his mates support Chelsea, Man U etc. I fear that SFC may be loosing a whole generation of supporters, and it really saddens me that my boys will probably not see top class football and experience the joy & excitement that I had when I was their age. Christ, typing this has made me feel really depressed, :smt022 I’m off to the Itchen Bridge, there’s a phone number for the Samaritans somewhere up there. The Vancouver Whitecaps game. Didn't Jimmy Greaves guest for us that day and score in a 3-1 (or 3-0) win??
Toomer Posted 5 February, 2009 Posted 5 February, 2009 My first game was Oct 9th 1959 we beat Swindon either 4 or 5 - 2, I have had some great highs and lows in that time but nothing as Lowe as it is now.
The Tango Man Posted 5 February, 2009 Posted 5 February, 2009 1965..and a Saints fan ever since..thanks to my Grandad who was raised with the likes of Bill Rawlins and co.... I will a Saint all my life as well...
david in sweden Posted 6 February, 2009 Posted 6 February, 2009 Those supporters who have only followed Saints for a short time eg from 2003 and beyond. I have been a supporter since the old Third Div South days so started at the bottom and worked up. I have seen some wonderful performances, some great players and, of course, some difficult times. The 7-1 defeat at Watford was comparatively the worst altho we all knew this was a one off. And I have never seen Saints beaten against Pompey, except on the TV However the good days far outweighed the bad. Now it seems to be continual decline. If it wasnt for the good memories I would have given up by now. This is certainly the worst performing side I have ever seen and my sympathies go out to those who dont have the good times to fall back on. I will be there next year but in body not spirit. We must be the same generation as Saints were Div 3 sth when I first saw th. However, the 1-7 defeat at Watford surely pales into insignificance when compared to the 0-7 on the televised game at Leed in 1972. Worse for me the firm I worked for at that time had their Head Office in Leeds......and all they could talk about was they had advertising hoardings around the ground and how good the company name looked on TV. Sh*t to the football.! But I agree with you. We have never been a club to win things or even get promotions, but all the same we have seen some great seasons. Over 100 goals. a season... on MORE than one occasion....Paine and Sydenham, (surely two of the best wingers ever to play at the same time - for any club, anywhere. The 5 man forward line in the same generation. 1966 promotionand although we struggled to survive every year, it was good to see (and sometimes soundly beat) some top sides at The DELL. Would we ever have had the great cupwinning side of 76, if ...we had sacked McMenemy after we were relegated in 1974.? Perhaps not ! NO.... Ball, Osgood, Shilton or Keegan in the Saints stripes. Then the second promotion 1978 and those great years that followed. The times we had teams like Liverpool, Arsenal and Man.U at the Dell and outplayed, and sometimes even disgraced them. The tragedy of 1984 when we almost won the League. There are those fans who say that had the season been 2 weeks longer ..we would have overtaken the fading Liverpool and actually won the Title. Two great FA Cup semi-final; 1984 and 86 - when we sadly lost out to both the Liverpool side in extra time. McMenemy's sudden departure and the arrival of Chris Nicholl, who IMHO was a much better manager than many gave him credit for...and who was sacked the day before the Board sold Rod wallace to Leeds for .......(wait for it ).. £1.6 million (quite a large sum of many in those days, too). Sadly, the last 10 years have been a procession of managers playing musical chairs first at the Dell and later at SMS (which is one of the few things to give RL credit for). His "man-management" as Lawrie called it is - very poor. Strachan... and the Cup Final were highlights - since when it's been a downward spiral. So to younger /newer fans ..hang in there, and I hope that you can look back in 40 -50 years with some pride because just now..Saints are roughly in the same situation as when I first became a regular fan, but it's been great. Sometimes excellent, sometimes tragic often frustrating but always .....SAINTS !!!!!!!!! COYR !!!!!!!!!!!!!
spyinthesky Posted 6 February, 2009 Author Posted 6 February, 2009 David, Good post. Perhaps between us we could list all the good points about supporting Saints over the years to counteract the current gloom. Incidentally last time I was in Sweden I stayed at a Hotel owned by one of the Abba band. Very funky!!
St Paul Posted 6 February, 2009 Posted 6 February, 2009 My older boy is 19, he's seen a few great Premiership games , Matt Le Tiss, and off course Villa Park Semi and the Final. So he's had some great days My youngest is 9, he's only been going 3 seasons, Sheff Utd and Southend before the play offs is about as good as it's got for him...............
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