Whitey Grandad

Or Slitty Clappy? (Enjoying Ernie sounds rather like a dubious Saturday night pastime, unless you're referring to the Benny Hill appreciation society)

These are both rather extreme epithets to describe Saints' supporters. The season hasn't kicked off yet and we are being divided into two different camps. Can't we just enjoy the football? I haven't done that for quite a while.

I have never said that I am happy to remain in this division for more than one season, just that I am prepared to be patient and wait for the proper foundations to be laid which will lead to sustained improvement in our league standings. With -10 points automatic promotion this season will be difficult, but not impossible, and I am fully confident that the management team will take the necessary steps to achieve long-term growth. Having said that, there are bound to be the occasional setbacks but at least we are heading in the right direction.

We love you too. :smt008

I'm not worried, these things will take some time to restructure and turn round. That's the trouble with the youngsters today, they want instant gratification. They're not prepared to plant the seeds and watch them grow. We may be lucky this season but I am patient and I expect it to be a long slow climb back up the leagues. We're not the first and we won't be the last club to drop to this level. Who's next? Newcastle anybody? Pompey can't be far off.

When you look down that list there is not much there that should frighten us. These sorts of predictions are based on the whole season and I'm fairly certain that the team that finishes it will be a lot different from the one that starts it.

Could the problem with renewal of his work permit be that he has not played much recently?

I went to that final and I was not aware of any trouble anywhere.

What's the rush? Nothing much is going to happen this season.

Was that for good behaviour?

I wasn't aware that we had any corporate supporters last season? They always looked empty whenever I looked across.

I've always wanted to make shoes for the Royal Family. Then I could have a Royal Warrant - 'By Appointment. Cobblers to the Queen'

I've just bought my ticket this morning and I got my own seat in the centre of the Kingsland. Am I the first to buy a ticket? It's an amazing deal - £3.00 for a senior season-ticket holder.

No good deed goes unpunished.

Great news! At this rate we might even have a team for Saturday.

There are plenty of grounds in this league where standing is allowed, in fact it's compulsory.

I did it the other way last season. I left Hamble at 5:30 to go to Woolston for an evening game. When I got to the car park it was empty so I checked that the parking regulations hadn't changed, then checked my diary for the date, then realised that I was one hour early. I'd left at the same time that I leave to go to my evening class, not when I leave to go to the football. At least I had the opportunity to sample the food and drink that are on offer before the match.

--- and I once sat just in front of someone with an airhorn at a match. Why oh why oh why?

Please god, no. Those wooden rattle thingies were bad enugh.

It was longer ago than we thought: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_Members_Cup#1992:_Nottingham_Forest_3_Southampton_2

Good practice for Saturday then

Zenith Data Systems. I have never been so cold and it took me 3 hours to get out of the car park.

That's really annoying. I was soooo looking forward to this tournament and now I shall be way for the game on October 7th. Boo hoo.

I would say that it is morally ok if it is only an occasional use of a senior ticket by an adult less than 60 years old. Deliberate purchase of a senior ticket for use by an under-60 would be fraud IMO. I have two STs which until now were at the full adult price and sometimes they have been used by my son and my granddaughter and very occasionally by an over 60. I would not expect a refund if a concessionary spectator were to use one of my adult tickets. This is the first season that my tickets have qualified for the 'senior' discount so perhaps I should be more circumspect in their use from now on?

Hmm, a difficult match to call. I suppose I'd settle for a draw. I'm fairly certain that next Saturday's team will be nothing like the the one we have at Christmas.