spyinthesky

Ahh kit. Desperately wanted a Saints kit when I was about 7 or 8. Taken to Toomers in London Rd. Only replica kit available was the Arsenal style ie Red with white sleeves but that was OK as it was close enough to the Saints red & white. Later found a white shirt with a Saints figure + halo on the front. My Nan later knitted me a green woolen Goalies jumper and I nicked my Mums best gloves. Oh so innocent then compared to the plethora of stuff available nowadays. Also had the old style boots with studs with protruding nails into the soles of your feet!!

Bradford City away was horrible. Crap town, crap journey, crap fans, crap ground, crap game. Overwhelming sense of relief at the end and the hope we would draw Palace in the semis. Remember sitting in the old main stand (the one that burnt down) about 3 rows back from Richard Dunn (I think that was his name) a Bradford born Heavyweight Boxer (bit limited but could have been British Champion at the time) He kept yelling out to the Bradford players (Cec Podd their right back in particular) to 'Break the Boogars leg'.. referring to Mike Channon who was causing Bradford quite a few problems with his pace Saw a old Ford Prefect/Anglia van, hand painted in red & white stripes, driving thro Bradford being chased by a mob of mainly coloured Bradford fans. Bradford Board trebled the ticket price for the game hence 14,000 ish attendance, the lowest for a Qtr Final tie that century, I think.

Have been fortunate to play alongside 8 of this squad at various times. Although they were getting on a bit all of them were good sports and still possessed the hallmark of a professional player. Dennis Hollywood used to frighten me and he was on my side!! Had a drink with the injury prone Ken Jones recently. He makes me laugh. Pulled a muscle lifting his pint!!

ESB Is Paul Lewis still involved in the Market Trade?

Saints have been scoring goals for fun, Brighton have a v leaky defence. Odds on 1-0 away win!!!

I vaguely know Andy Oldknow and bumped into him soon after he rejoined the club. He suggested meeting up to see if people I know could assist with commercial development at the club. The meet never happened. No problems as far as I was concerned as assumed he was v busy within a revised commercial environment Some time after I was in a group invited to the Brizzle Rovs game, essentially to meet NC and hear about the commercial vision for the future Unfortunately Andy O had to do the presentation himself as NC 'called away' for urgent business. We were all told to expect a call from the commercial team within a short time. No call has been received to date. Meanwhile John O'Sullivan (the ex Commercial Director) has been away from work for several weeks (heard he was unwell and, if so, I hope he makes a speedy and full recovery) In addition there has been at least one other, respected, member of the commercial team given their P45 this week so there does appear to have been a root and branch review of commercial activity at the club. Hope everything works out well for the staff involved and for the long term future of the club.

This thread brought to mind the song we used to sing after the SF 'Docherty shut your mouth as the Cup is coming south..la la la la la la la lala

Duncan lots of flu about at the time. Recollect Sir Michael de Channon (as he was called on he European Tour) was suffering, as was a couple of other team members at the Hawthorns. I wasnt too chipper either but had a stand seat with the bulk of the 10,000 or so Saints fans to our left standing on the away end. btw my Cup Final ticket was £6 and we sat next to the steps up to the Royal Box . After the final whistle an old chap raised his hands to the heavens and said ..'This is unbelievable. Thank you Lord you may as well take me now'.. always thought this would have been a wonderful time to go at a time of delerium (but then would have missed the glorious return to Soton, the all night **** up, the Sunday tour and the Monday night QPR game!! Remember Tubbsy. Used to know a lot of the Wessex Hotel crowd thro local football and pre match Dell games

Wonder what the shareholder who wrote the letter brandished by Rupert, supporting his efforts, at the last AGM thinks about our dear departed leader now?? Probably only had one share!!

I went to all games Four of us went up to Villa Park for the 3rd rd replay Sat next to a lad from Bournemouth (not many Saints fans in a 40k+ crowd) Next saw him a mile or so away from Wembley after the Final as we had cars parked next to one another!!

I let my heart rule my head and bought £1k's worth at £1.47 a share and was told, at the time, the shares were v difficult to get hold of!! Wrote off the 'investment' some time ago. Just pleased that there is a 'feel good' factor for the first time in ages

Apart rom the Sheff Weds trio, I think Pompeys GK at the time, **** Beattie, was also implicated in a match fixing scam

Remember Tony Kay (left half), Bronco Layne (CF) and Peter Swan (CH), all playing for Sheff Weds in a pre season friendly v Saints at The Dell in 1963/4? 3-3 draw All of them good players. Waste of talent for littel reward Tony Kay went on to Everton for big money (at the time)

Not so long ago I had the dubious honour of meeting Mr Clifford, our erstwhile 'soccer coach' appointed by Messrs Lowe/Woodward. How on earth someone could imagine such a man would benefit Southampton Football Club, is beyond me. I have kept an eye on Garforth Town since then, bearing in mind Mr Clifford made all sorts of wild claims that Premiership football would be achievable in the forseeable future at Garforth. Interestingly he has now stepped down from Team Management, with Garforth stuck in mid table in some obscure Northern League. Reading the man's rambling web notes with poor use of English, makes me question the reasoning behind his appointment. Say what you like about Messrs Lowe and Woodward, neither of them are unintelligent men but.....

Rachel Hine Cllr Vernon Jackson Barry Dewing (PISA) Gemma Tait Peter Storrie Ian Hickton and many other readers of a local newspaper They all supported the Portsmouth News campaign to persuade Her Maj to honour Mr Harold Redknapp Esq with a Knighthood. The citation suggested that the..'Honour is not for his (!!) FA Cup triumph but for his charity work (!!!) and his devotion to Pompey fans (!!!!) Should anyone wish to support this well deserved honour contact the Portsmouth News or tap into the 'Arise Sir Harry' Facebook site. Wouldn't it be great if our friends down the road can succeed with this worthwhile enterprise.

Swimming up Fareham Creek to spawn

Just looking at our Cup Final season. We went 16 games from 6th December 1975 (when we whacked champions elect Sunderland 4-0) to Feb 28th 1976 when we lost 2-1 (in front of 3,777)at York who were eventually relegated with that other team from East hants. Just goes to show that even a team brimming with confidence and on a good run can slip up.

Where's Corps to give us a heads up!!

What does the cutting edge journalist, Piers Morgan, make of all this. Didn't he big up the fake Shiek???

Feel sure it was the 1966 game Went to watch Brentford v Hull at Griffin Park

Can you imagine Rupert holding court at his Members Only Club or at a Gloucester set Dinner Party basking in Saints revival and claiming credit for 'arranging' admin as he 'knew there would be white knights out there ready to build on the foundations he had laid' As the port was passed round he would raise a glass to the memory of Messrs McMenemy, Crouch and Wilde, all of whom opposed him and are now ostracised. Rupert would never be seen as a 'failure' of course.

Suppose no Askham/Wiseman/Richards/Salz et al Crouch and Mcmenemy were there to welcome in the new regime, if I remember correctly, but have obviously fallen out with the club subsequently. I have met Crouch on three or four occasions. First couple of times I put him down as a strange individual. Couldn't make him out at all and certainly questioned his prowess a a business man. Subsequently had a long chat to him about the club at an away game during the Burley era and he came across as very passionate about the club and keen to help as much as he could

I continue to be worried about Corp and his relatives Westwood (sic), Tally and Gung. Rumour is Corp is out and about (again) trying to rustle up another rescue package Some suggestion that the new Job****e Stadium will be built on one of the Solent Forts which is currently up for sale. Good site, no problems with neighbours and plenty of plankton in the vicinity for pre match meals!!

Unfortunately the green mould will be there for some time. The original paint spec was 'cheap & cheerful' and altho Barr's (the stadium builders) are contracted to undertake some 'snagging' work, its likely to cost some considerable pence to do a decent job. Guess the prioirity is spending on the team at the mo altho it is also helpful to have the facilities in good order too

Reminds me v much of George Lawrence (aka Chicken George). Strong, quick and direct but without much ball control or guile. Made more impact than Papa and contributed to our win. Reserve judgement for the moment. Hopeful that Mcglaggon can offer something similar when fully fit. Need something similar down the left flank, as an option. Unfortunately Lee Holmes/Fish Mills don't provide this option