John Boy Saint

Scrolled down to the 2nd January fixtures and Exeter have drawn the short straw with an away trip to Carlisle!!!, whereas we have a short toddle up to Brentford.

I remember us playing Arsenal at the Dell on New Years Day with an 11-11.30 am kick off, there was frost on the cage between the Junior Saints and everyone else at the Milton Road end, and the rich aroma of alcohol on peoples breaths.

Even today the people of Normandy are very grateful to the British for their liberation, that gratuity seems to have been passed down through following generations.

Shame this game was not billed for the end of the season, as both times we were promoted to the top division in 1966 and 1978 our promotion was guaranteed with a draw at Orient.

Royksopp ~ Junior The Coral ~ Roots & Echos Genesis ~ Turn it on Again Tour live in Manchester disc 2 (second half) All on a long drive home

It is believed that the Sahara Desert is the previous location of the Arctic.

Tonight we had Gammon Steak, Mushrooms, Sautéed Potato's peas and corn. On Mash potato do people recall the Bangers & Mash stall on the approach to the Chapel end of the ground, the mash came out of a machine like runny porridge but a quick stir had it to the consistency of home made Mash, when I asked them about the ready mash they said that it was 80% spud, they said that there was an more expensive mix that was 90% spud........ I remember the first time that I had Bangers and Mash from there we were playing Sheffield Utd on a bitter December evening that mash sat in my stomach like a breeze block that had been in the oven on a low heat.

A big digression on that point, the Winchester Bypass was probably the first dual carriageway in Europe as it was built before the Second World War. By all accounts the man who's airforce dropped more bombs per capita on Southampton than London, heard about the Winchester Bypass and thought that this 2 lane road system across Germany linking the big Cities would make travelling much quicker he called them Autobahns. Apparently it was a Mustang P51 that flew through the bridge.

Even with the -10 and a full pre season we would have 29 points by now. I think that comment puts me on the fence :smt119

For my money as a nipper supporting Saints the teams Lawrie put out for MY entertainment were the best teams in the world, humiliating Man U on the largest stage in world club football set the tone and everything grew from there. Promotion to the top flight was great, turning up at The Dell no matter who's name was on the wall of the Milton as that days visitors, you entered the ground believing that your were going to see entertaining football and invariably see the nose of a "bigger" team spread across their faces, even if we were beaten the mood walking away from the ground 95% of the time even after a loss was that everyone had been entertained, which was obviously down to the man picking the team. For my money only WGS has fanned the embers of those fantastic memories of Saints under Lawrie. Personally the fact that he enabled me to get tickets for my Dad and me to see the 1979 League Cup Final puts him high up on the list of people I count as personal heros, and negates the share stuff etc. Anyone who makes a negative judgement on this is talking out of their backside because given the same opportunity very few would turn their back on it.

If we get him the secret weapon we will have if Papa stands next to him is the other side will spend most of the first half figuring out whether Cox & Papa got their kits mixed up in the changing room................ Anyone who has seen Papa on the pitch will know what I mean.

Where he is now after a couple of Woo-Woo's you can be whatever you like dharling x Thats me on a warning with the mods now

If you are short and Canadian you might be in with a chance.

I had a mate who was one of the Canadian imports for the Vikings, silly bugger got done for drink driving within months of arriving here, so as we lived in Silchester north of Basingstoke muggins here became the Taxi driver to Southampton.............. The upside was all the Hockey Hookers: he worked his way through the bulk of them, including the munters.

Was that the one tucked away in the corner down at the bottom of the hill.

As a sprout I lived in Bitterne, my Granny & Grandad lived in Shirley, on the odd exciting occasion we would "sail across the Ocean" on the Floating Bridge. being first on scared me as I feared we might not stop, watching the black ball go down the pole at the stern and going up at the bow meant we were off: quite the adventure when I was 4. Going down to Western Shore to see the Queens Lizzie 1 & 2 and Mary departing or arriving. The Red Routemaster buses on the aft deck of the Queen Mary as she left Southampton for the final time. The Hovercraft from Woolston. The Paddling Pools on the Common Boating lake up the Sports Centre with the tin hand paddle boats, and the water fights on hot days mastered by sitting on one side of the boat and paddling the otherside to skim the water at another boat. The 2p Orange train up the Sports Centre The Witches Hat roundabout up the Sports Centre. Weekend nights down the Ice Rink, dodging the plebs with hire skates, saving the girls as they were about to fall. Then at 9 and 10pm the ice was cleared of hire skates so those with their own skates had 15 minutes (71/2 minutes for Girls then the same for the boys) to show off, the DJ always played Blue Monday 12". Shopping in Safeway opposite Edwin Jones on a Friday evening. Getting lost in Edwin Jones and getting Jelly Baby's from the staff while we waited for my Mum to collect me. Father Christmas's Grotto in Edwin Jones The smell of Fawley wafting over the city. Just a few before I get boring.

I think the old one was built around a Sky Sports template, because just like our current OS offering there was quite a few in the same style, layout, and navigation.

Also most of the pupils come from homes where hard work is the norm, whereas state schools have a melange of pupils from those with natural ability to succeed to the numpties who think that mucking about in class is cool. Those in the middle get caught both ways, private schools preclude those that could not give a monkeys meaning those in the middle aspire to match those at the top. Jeez what a thread.................. and there's me a wooden spoon salesman. :-)

Thanks for the back up Olympic. The main reason why the Tories got the heave-ho was because the country had grown tired of them, and for once a young fresh faced Labour leader had rocked up and talked a different language to the previous windbags that Labour got behind. As many people said in Tony's early days blimey its just like the Tories just under a different coloured flag. So after 18 years of one party leading the country, who were unable to get away with the things that they could in the past under a mask of smoke and mirrors (thanks to the things Thatcher did to make we the people more aware, and responsible for our own destiny) most people fancied a change. Just the cycle of politics, Tories have to come in and sweep up the rubbish the last lot left behind, unfortunately the pill is a bitter one that many people remember for tasting horrible. We all know now the next pill ain't going to taste nice if the Tories get in, Labour will wrap it in shiny colourful paper when they can decide what colours to use, and their pill will be the size of a golf ball and take just as long to digest.

That bit will keep this thread going for a while, but then the majority of folks in the south of the country will have a sheep Maggie hating philosophy because it sounds great anyone from the big industrial towns of the north will have a totally different perspective on "the Iron Lady". However even in the industrial and mining shires of the north despite their slice of union due going to Labour coffers had seen enough of a Labour Government in 1979.

Well in 1979 under Labour this country was going down the sh1tter at a rate of knots, Unions had the whip hand went on strike if the boss farted in the wrong key rubbish piling up in the streets industry was un viable. Tories under Maggie Thatcher came to power and she kicked the chuffin lot up the arse & out the door in many a case. Sadly like all politicians in power too long they got power crazy and pushed their luck a bit too far. However unlike the next government, when Labour took over in 1997 the country was in pretty good shape financially; and as things stand right now as usual they have piddled the chuffin lot up the wall. Sorry more than 100 words

Go to the Programme shop under the Chapel they had a pile of Carlisle ones there on Saturday. If you sit elsewhere that can't access the Chapel just ask the stewards at the Chapel end gates and in return for your ticket they will let you in and back out again returning your ticket (entry was that way a few years ago).

How do you think I actually managed to get married?!? ...............................Chuffin good job Missus John Boy does not frequent here!!! :smt021

I use to like the smell of Fawley as it wafted over Southampton City centre, having moved to north Hampshire at 4 1/2 smelling that coal tar aroma always told me when I was home. Doesn't seem to occur very often these days :-( .............. No doubt a relief to those who smelt it every day.

There will be a Nodding Donkey in the middle of the pitch by Christmas. Good for them. Also good that we won't have to go in search of new arch rivals in Football.