Fitzhugh Fella

Can't argue with anything you say Micky but I don't know what it is going to take for someone to say "enough"! Everything is spiralling out of control. Feguson does what he pleases, Sky dictate the media frenzy, the Prem players are above the law (Gerrard) and Redknapp is still operating in the market place. Its like Lord of the Flies. It gets to the stage where you almost want to encourage "armageddon" because you know it will hasten judgement day. A bit like wanting your team to lose so the manager gets the bullet. As for Poopey, I admit I am rather immature in my glee at their predicament but such is the animosity I can't help myself. Mind you I also take great malicious pleasure at the misfortune of other "big" clubs or "big" names which is part and parcel of football these days. The Germans invented a word for it - "schadenfreude" and now I have learnt to spell it I might use it again!!!!

Micky you mention the reputation of football in this country - football in this country is just like its politics - dirty, greedy, corrupt and morally bankrupt. Us not laughing at Poopey is not going to change anything so we might as well keep laughing while Rome burns.

We had Bill Rawlings in the 20s, Ted Drake in the 30s, Charlie Wayman in the 40s, Terry Paine in the 50s, Mick Channon in the 70s, a whole coachload in the 80s and Le Tiss in the 90s. Spare a thought tonight however for 60s legend, Ron Davies whose partner, Chrissie has just passed away. She was a lovely lady who I sat next to at the Dell Diamond launch. It shows how modest Ron must have been because he never told her how revered he had been at the Dell and over the night she grew increasingly incredulous at the boisterous devotion and adulation that was given to Ron. The roaring ovation he got as he walked (or was that lurched) to the stage to deliver a speach on Ted brought tears to the eyes. Chrissie was open mouthed. She could not believe it as I explained Ron was our Joe D'Magio. She was thrilled to be part of it - she was so chuffed to bask in a little of his glory and when she found out he had once been voted the best looking football in the Football League 1967 by the Football League Review magazine her face was a pretty picture. It was suddenly a long way from a trailer in New Mexico As part of the GITR committee I know how much she worked on Ron's behalf and her loss will be massive to the big Welshman - I just hope he has the strength to overcome what must be a devastating loss. TT has done a great job out there in the States and has become emotionally involved (how can you not) and anyone who regarded Ron as their hero owes Tim a big thank you. "Ron is King" was sprayed on many a Southampton wall...but this week he has lost his Queen. My thoughts are with him over his premature loss. Hang on in there, lad.

Sh*t Tim, this is bad news indeed! She was Ron's bedrock, he worshipped her. I sat next to her at the Ted Bates, Dell Diamond launch dinner and I have never seen anyone so gobsmacked at suddenly finding out her partner was so revered. As the evening wore on her jaw got lower and lower in sheer disbelief as our table was literally beseiged with fans. I told her Ron was the Joe D'Maggio of Southampton and then, suddenly it dawned. Her partner WAS a living legend - at least in these parts!! I also told her Ron had been voted the best looking footballer in Football league Review mag (used to be included in most programmes in those days), beating George Best into second place and she gave me one of "those" looks as if to say "Now I know you are kidding me". I am really worried Ron might not want to survive her departure - you have done a great job so far, but you might need to do a bit more. You know you have the support of the "Give It To Ron" committee. Please send Ron my personal regards and tell him to hang in there, something he once was very good at! Rgds D

can't blame anyone under the age of 25 wanting a Tory government especially after the last 12 years of hypocracy and betrayal but those over 25 should try and remember just how really bad it was under the dark days of Thatch. Who then? No longer have a clue. What a sad indictment of our morally bankrupt political system where all politicians are only interested in power and not running the country properly and fairly. Where's my pitchfork?

I wish a little more fuss was made of the bankrupt political system and the morally flawed politicians. If we addressed those problems perhaps the BNP would not exist. They are stepping into a vacuum created by the biggest political betrayal of modern times.

Thanks MoG - I found that site a few years ago but hadn't seen some of the latest stuff added over the last year or so. Just read "The Restless Generation" by Pete Frame - real good read about music in the 50s and early 60s in England. Mentions Lonnie Donegan teaming up with Ken Colyer in Southampton one night to play a little skiffle. Donegan was in Netley Hospital at the time.

he'll find managing Boro a lot more taxing than Celtic. I think Wee Gordon might get found out.

then I am starting to doubt it.

Hunting Pompey down in the wee small hours - there's dedication!

I would like to state my full 100% support for the CWU. This time in a month I expect to be going down the same road. I do not believe in political strikes or militancy whatsoever. But what I do believe in is people fighting to maintain what they have been promised when the people trying to take away those promises are nothing more than carpetbaggers - and, come on folks, you all know Adam Crozier's track record. I will leave you with some words Neal Lawson wrote in the Guardian this week - "The government see ony one Route to Royal Mail modernisation - take out the union. The hard core of New Labour believes that the private sector is best, despite all the evidence of collapsing banks and the services we get from the likes of Virgin media and BT. It believes unions get in the way and stop reforms that enable organisations to compete efficiently, despite the fact that the best companies see their workers as an asset to be utilised, not a nuisance to be crushed". Speaking from front line experience those lines ring so tune. I know who I would rather trust - my local postie who has been doing rounds round here for 40 years looking after old dears, shutting gates, checking on people on holiday etc etc or Crozier who paracuted away from a disaster in the FA into a million pound plus salary in the GPO who wouls not know one end of a letter to the other. This country is going to the dogs not because of the workers but because of the people at the top of the finance world whose greed very nearly did for us all. And meanwhile lets all give the decent postman a damn good kicking. Anyone see Dell Days knitting while they cut heads off during the French Revolution?

Coppell?

You learn something every day!

Yeah - they also played back up with Hendrix having shared a flat with him and Keith Richards and Jeff Beck were big fans. I wonder if any are still in the So'ton area.

from the 60s. Does anyone remember them? Their vinyl singles now sell for sums up to £900. There is an interesting article in this months Record Collector on them and a book has been written called "Circles". There is a reunion gig at the 100 club coming up too. They played their first gig in Romsey 18 September 1964 and their early line up included Keith Guster (drums) Danny Churchill (bass) Frank Smith (guitar, vocals, and Alex Chamberlain (organ). Guster is still around as he is quoted in the article but don't know if anyone knows the other 3? Southampton has produced so few big acts from the music world it is nice to read about the "Fleur De Lys".

Talking of Henrys in St Marys St - does anyone remember the men's cloths shop - Sidneys nearby?

I reckon I knew your Nan! Of course the Corner Post is really the Fitzhugh

You've been reading the Daily Mail or as it is known in my house - the paramilitary wing of Womans Realm magazine.

Quite right too!

No not really - he did say he forgave me but insisted I was wrong to reveal the details of a private e mail. We will have to beg to differ. Another low point for me was hearing that Steve Wigley had been given the managerial position on a permanent basis. I knew then we were going down.

Welcome back Frank As a renowned anti Lowe poster I will say one positive thing about him. I think he actually cared about Southampton FC. He just wasn't capable of thinking he was ever wrong. A lot worse chairmen than him have graced football however - Wilde for one. Also football is littered with Chairmen in it for themselves with an eye to make money out of their clubs. For all his faults Lowe was not one of them. I am still very grateful he is no longer involved however.

Agree with the top but the lowest position for me was the night Pinnacle pulled out as I really thought it was curtains. Thank God ML was still prepared to come in despite being messed around by Fry. Another low for me was getting a bollocking from Matt the previous Saturday for exposing Pinnacle on here. Not nice being shouted at by a legend.

or Adam Crozier

Stand corrected (that will teach me not to be lazy) but even so, at 31 and as fit as a fiddle, his signing was still a coup. Were he to come on the market today at that age there would be a whole host of top clubs in for him. LM did have the knack of signing top quality players from under the noses of bigger clubs. Dave Armstrong, Joe Jordan and Dave Watson to name another three. And who could forget Shilton? Love him or loathe him (and it appears he does polarise the fan base here), he could certainly pull a rabbit out of a hat and it was exciting times to be a Saints fan. I remember signing Osgood (then a real big time Kings Road charlie) and not believing a man of his calibre would ever deign to join us but it was the first of many.

I still find it extraordinary that he was able to persuade Ball to join a 2nd division club and no one in the Div One seemed to want him. He was still in his twenties and was still one of the best midfielders in the country and we got him for 60 grand. Even his Dad didn't want him to come to Saints but LM worked his magic. And what a signing.