SW11_Saint

Classic! I think we did a similar circuit, as I guess did every other So'ton kid in the 70's. My heart used to sink when we went into M&S (not as "interesting" as it is now to kids with toys/food etc.) as it used to take ages as my mum would invariably meet tons of old friends and stop and natter with them!

"10p of chips and scraps" - what a belter! The original fast food!

I remember McFisheries - was it up by the original Virgin Records? In fact, it might have even been the site where Virgin moved into (this is the old hippie Virgin Records, rather than the modern megastore). I used to play with their plastic green fern things they displayed around the fish. Also, do you remember Lyon's tea/coffee shop on the high street? Was opposite where the old M&S was.

It's a cracking photo - I was famous at school for 15 minutes! I remember we stopped on the way up at some pub/social club around London. Some woman asked Sean (my mate) and I who we thought would win - I said Saints, and he said Crystal Palace. She replied "Well, at least he's being honest" which gave me the right hump and I thought of her when we scored our second to make it safe! Also had two right @rsey Palace fans (in their fedora's) near us in the ground. I got great delight from their faces at the end too - also vividly remember the Malcolm Allison fedora stomping episode. I too will always think of the banjos when I think of that day - it really was a cracking atmosphere on that coach. As you say, a lot of proper old Saints men who really made the most of their day out. Thanks for posting - have left a note on your blog too, great reading!

My GOD!!!! How embarrassing - the chubby kid, centre, with the pork pie hat and holding out the Saints scarf is ME!!!! What a find! It was definitely the semi (I couldn't get a ticket for the final...). The chap to my right is the landlords son, my mate from back then. What a day!

Cheers. Funny how the advent of the first "fast food" outlets were a real event. I think me and my mates might even have gone to town especially to hang out there when we were (pre pub) kids. How sad. Talking of pubs, is The Running Horse still around or has that gone? I went to the semi-final in '76 in the coaches from there, great atmosphere there and back with booze, packed lunches and banjo players on the coach. We even got our photo on the front of the Echo, pictured just before we set off. There was also a pub right opposite, but can't remember what it was called (actually, think it's just come to me - Spa Tavern? - was always a "starting off" pub on a Sat night).

Yes, couple of times. Used to go there regularly as a toddler, and around the little ponds just adjacent. Is it still there? Silly question probably...

Huckleberrys!!! Totally forgotten about that - was that the first (post-Wimpey) "fast food" burger bar in So'ton? I was thinking it was Burger King or McDonalds - remind me again, where was it? Didn't the old Wimpey by Bargate become a McDonalds, or was that Huckleberry's first?

It's amazing the education this thread is giving me! - really fascinating. I know Hinkler Road well as I have relatives who live in Thornhill, but was totally unaware of the history behind the name. Cheers.

There was always a tradition on the 'Monster Coach' of letting him get towards the doors, then driving off for a bit... believe it may have come from when he was being chased by opposing fans and the bus went off as he ran towards it (Chelsea? - could explain the end of that song about him - "he only runs when the Chelsea come"). Someone on here must know the full story.

"'Humps' for 1/2 Mile" - you couldn't make it up!

Those Haircut 100 days!!!

Another, sadly deceased, So'ton legend not mentioned yet - Jim Redpath ("Southamptons biggest psychopath" as the song went). (or was it Ripath? was never sure).

What a shame, he was a lovely bloke. RIP.

Good things come to those who wait... ... and even to those who get jittery and start asking when we should sack AP!

Get in!!!!

Is it Roy Phillips? He used to sing lead in a band that used to busk in front of Top Shop in the 80's (they used to wear fez's if memory serves). Not sure if this is the same lot, but he looks like him (looked a bit like Roland Gift from FYC in his younger days). Used to go to my school, as did his brother Lee who died young I believe. Think Roy also played for the Southampton Seahawks American Football team. Couple of other memories while I'm at it... Godwin's fish & chips - behind Edwin Jones, back of Queensway. Happy memories there. Also, McQueen - up near Tyrrell & Green near that Coffee Shop. THE place to buy your denim in the 80's (from 'Gay Robin' the manager).

Lordy... I remember him!

Yes, I think you, rather she, is right!

Some great old pictures of the fantastic art deco Ocean Terminal. What a sin to have demolished it... Remember some great nights in the early hours watching the QE2 dock - especially exciting when back from a world cruise (if nothing else to see what my Dad had brought back!).

I remember going to a "Skinhead moonstomp" (I wasn't one, but did know a couple of skins) in the 80's in the big church opposite the Gaumont/Mayflower. A big fat blonde woman with an alsation on the door, along with a couple of skinhead bouncers - it was pretty terrifying inside, packed to the rafters with skinheads wearing Fred Perry polo or gingham shirts, braces and crombies. Some decent ska music though. Think that church actually did become a bar (Cloisters or something equally naff?).

I know exactly where you mean now - towards the end of the row of shops that Tyrrell & Green was in. Think there was a florist there too. Funny how other people's memories can spark your own - I remember the coffee shop vividly now, believe there was an old fashioned coffee grinder in the window? I used to change buses there back from school (15 from Swaything to town, 2/2a back out to Lordswood). Subway was on the parade of shops on the road that led down towards the Lido / Pirrelli's. It was the first one on left once you got through the cutway (where Thorntons chocolate shop was) from Above Bar. From memory I think it was downstairs - think all the shops on that little parade were. I have a feeling there may have been another record shop where you describe - in fact I'm certain there was - was that pre-Bargate Centre (white elephant!) days?

Amazingly we did catch one once - but only once - with one of those old fishing lines (wooden frame with orange cord wrapped around it). Didn't know how to kill it so stuck it in a tupperware box and wrapped a towel around it, which comically went hopping off down the pier... an angler took pity and killed the poor thing for us. Very nice it was too!

I remember that too. The commissionaire guy used to come around the corner at really popular films and shout "You've got no chance, don't wait!". We always hung on grimly, in the hope that you'd get in, even if you couldn't sit with your mates. Otherwise you ended up watching something you had no interest in! I'm sure I remember this ritual for Star Wars, Life of Brian, Airplane! etc. Of course you couldn't pre-book in those days, so you had to just queue up and take your chances...

Some things never change!