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Saints - My Dad


TijuanaTim
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My dad took me once or twice to see the Saints. He was a huge football fan, loved Bestie, Charlie Cooke and Mooro but would never admit it.

 

However, besides England, he could give two fux who won. He literally didn't support, follow or even prefer to watch any team. He just liked a good game, strange to some of us huh????

 

We have to ask ourselve's, is that the best way to go? I mean, I have season tix to the LA Galaxy and yeah, I kinda want them to win...but if I leave the HDC and they've lost two minutes later I could give a rat's @ss FFS, my weekend is not ruined like coming away from a miserable Saints loss at say Carrow Road.

 

You're gonna kill me for saying this, but I look forward to watching some teams we're supposed to hate. Most of all the @rse (they play beautifully). Mank U are good to watch and so are Villa, West Ham and Fulham. Some top teams ain't e.g. Chelsk are a boring as hell and the scousers for all their self-proclaimed importance, still hoof the ball up over the top to Torres and hope Stevie G picks it up when the bleached blonde fux up.

 

I was born just North of the Smoke and as (a very young 'un) liked the Spurs...do we go back to who we kinda liked in an earlier life? Do we pick a new team? Or do like my frequently 'soccer-satisfied' dad and just enjoy the wonderful sport?

 

Kinda like do you remarry after a lifetime with a beloved wife that passes on?

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Well, I do watch other football, you know, whisper it, that doesn't involve Saints.

 

I like watching man u, liverpool and arsenal, but not chelsea.

 

I like watching football, but when I can't do that, I'll go and watch Saints! Joke! :)

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Had a very brief conversation with my wife (yank) about this last night as I was trying to explain what this might mean if Saints go bust. (The discussion ended abruptly when she uttered the words "what about Ports....")

 

There is no other team as far as I'm concerned. AFC Saints it is then.

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I've travelled a lot around the UK due to my job and generally being of an itinerant nature. I've always been Saints cos I grew up in Hampshire and they are the only team I'll ever love.

 

However, I have always gone to watch my local team so I have an affinity with -

 

Weymouth - lived there for 4 years

Taunton town - my parents lived there

Hearts/Hibs -I lived in Edinburgh for 6 years and would go to see Saints when they travelled north to Newcastle etc.

Queen's Park - lived in Glasgow near Hampden Park for 9 years. Couldn't be a*rsed with the Celtic/Rangers thing although I did go now and then.

 

Whenever I left the ground after watching one of these teams I would always want to know how Saints got on as soon as possible.

 

Out of all those teams, if I were to pick one it would be Hearts, but none of them inspire the emotional attachment that saints do, and none ever will!

Edited by RonManager
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I have always had a very close 'second' team - one that has caused me great issue over the years.

 

In fact, of the two main reasons* I became a Saints fan in the first place, they are probably the most important.

 

See, my Dad's family are ALL Brentford, but my dad was not into football at all. As such I would be brought old kits and scarfs by various uncles and the grandperants.

 

In 1983, any boy running around in a 20-a-side game in the park in red and white stripes would be called "southampton" by his new found team mates. I soon learnt this was the home of heros and conviently the closest club to where I lived and, best of all they were one of the top teams in the country.

 

So, as any self-respecting 6 year old would do; I hunted the glory!

 

Of course, it's all been pretty much downhill since then and I have had to watch as the two teams come closer in parity untill the Bees are now arguably the more attractive side to todays young 'un looking for a club in Red n White stripes...

 

...I'm not saying I'm jumping ship, just realised now that my life-boat is more seaworthy than the vessal I'm currently on. (over stretched that metaphor I think).

 

 

*the other reason? My mother (pregant with me at the time !!) was at Wembley on the greatest day in Saints history so had a soft spot for them :-)

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There is following and enjoying football, and then there is picking your religion. Mine is Southampton F.C. I'll still watch and enjoy football if it all goes tits up, but ill never have the passion for another team like I do saints.

 

Long may Saints continue to satisfy my passion :)

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Tim you could start by not calling it soccer....it's so American.

 

 

Sorry mate, force of habit I guess. However, all my really old 'pro' football player mates when I was back in the UK (from 40s and 50s) called the beautiful game 'soccer', so not just an American thing tbf.

 

About 30 secs or so in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svEAZYvGd3E&NR=1 for the first time...

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Sorry mate, force of habit I guess. However, all my really old 'pro' football player mates when I was back in the UK (from 40s and 50s) called the beautiful game 'soccer', so not just an American thing tbf.

 

About 30 secs or so in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svEAZYvGd3E&NR=1 for the first time...

 

Hang on a sec, do you live in America then? :confused:

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My dad had a season ticket in the East Stand at the Dell for years and years.

Front row centre.

When he was away I used to scrounge his ticket, but usually he'd give me a lift to the Dell and I'd spend 2/3d to go in the boys in the Milton.

Then I'd meet him back at the car in someone's drive in Bedford Place (I never did find out who that was)

 

But the thing is, in the late 40's every other Saturday he'd go down to Pompey and quite happily watch them.

 

It wasn't so intense in those days - it was friendly rivalry - That's all.

 

And it should be now.

 

I know I'll get slated for this - but it's what I think.

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Sorry to say but I have been "out of love" with footy for 2 or3 seasons now. Haven't even really watched match of the day since we got relegated. Have kept my ST but that has been more to do with seeing my mates. Suppose I am just fed up with all the e tra ****** footy has become.

It was so much simpler pre Sky and the Prem. Don't get me wrong, Sky have done a hell of a lot for the game but I do miss tbs days when Saturday afternoons were football time.

 

Col

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I 'support' several teams - eg

 

Grimsby (because I lived there for years - I had a 'Harry the Haddock', which for anyone who knows anythig about fish was actually a Rainbow Trout (also bizarrly the picture on 'Trout Mask Replica by Captain Beefheart is a Carp FFS).

 

Rushden and Diamonds (because my father-in -law (huge fan) took me when they played in a field and I watched the metioric rise and fall back).

 

Cambridge United because they are my local team for the last 18 years, a great club, and they have endured similar horrors to Saints at the moment.

 

Some of the best moments of my life.

 

 

Having said all that I would I would happily see them all dragged off to Rupert Lowes private rubber dungeon for days of abuse from his polo and shooting pals in exchange for a 98th minuite handball winner against Millwall.

 

COYR

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I got rid of Sky Sport in NZ when Saints left the premiership as the only UK games shown are in the prem.

They show Spanish and MLS games live as well and I think sometimes Italian on ESPN but I cannot

really be bothered to watch.

I suppose IF Saints die I will watch some games in the future but I am totally unable to Love another team.

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Couldn't support another English team, that's for sure. How could anyone adopt a new team to cheer on when one day in the past you may have been taunting their fans from the Northam?

 

I'd look abroad, take in a different footballing culture on the continent. Some mates and I drove to a Schalke match last season, was one of the best footballing experiences I've had, as was seeing Porto vs Benfica the season before.

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Couldn't support another English team, that's for sure. How could anyone adopt a new team to cheer on when one day in the past you may have been taunting their fans from the Northam?

 

I'd look abroad, take in a different footballing culture on the continent. Some mates and I drove to a Schalke match last season, was one of the best footballing experiences I've had, as was seeing Porto vs Benfica the season before.

 

Good points, gotta soft spot for the Queen's XI, tons of mates here are Boca Junior 'Los Xeneizes' and of course the best team in the Scottish league (where several of us went in a mental away day in '87) Rangers - no not the Queen's XI Glasgow Rangers, but the one and only Berwick Rangers FFS

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Way back in the 60's (gawd, I am dating myself here ;-) ), while living in Amsterdam I was a fervent supporter of a club by the name of DWS, which was then then the second club to Ajax in Amsterdam. DWS soon merged with some smaller clubs and became FC Amsterdam. A few years after that they went bankrupt and completely ceased to exist. That was a real big heartache, and I never thought I would find another club that I could love that much.

 

Then I moved to Chandlers Ford and my neighbour took me to see Saints. And there I was, falling in love with a club like I never loved a club before. I couldn't bare to see this club go under too, but I am sure that over time I will find another team to follow. Right now though I cannot even conceive of it.

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I've had various discussions with my brother (also big Saints fan) about who we could possibly support if we went to the wall. And the upshot is, no one. With Saints goes my love of football unfortunately.

 

Our Dad brought us up as Saints fans from the moment we were born, and regardless of anything that happens, that can never leave me, nor can I get rid of it myself (however much I want to at times).

 

I've never lived in Southampton, or even in Hampshire. Nearest I have ever got is where I live now, in Godalming, but I have lived a fairly itinerant life, living in various places across UK and the world, but the only place that makes me feel vaguely like I miss home is Southampton. Not because of the place (let's be honest, it's not the loveliest), but because of my football club that lives there.

 

As soon as season tickets go on sale, I am looking forward to getting an ST for my 6 year old daughter, and thus my family's support of Saints moves on to a fourth generation. To be able to do that will mean an incredible amount to me, especially after what we have been through in the last 2 months, 1 year, 4 years.

 

So, no way could I ever support another club. Life will be very, very different if this week doesn't go as we want it to. And much sadder, less fulfilled for myself and my daughter, for it.

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*the other reason? My mother (pregant with me at the time !!) was at Wembley on the greatest day in Saints history so had a soft spot for them :-)

 

I was conceived in Southampton if that counts.

x

hamster

Edited by hamster
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I am a huge Saints fan - but I have no great love of other football teams, or indeed other football matches. I'll pay a passing interest in the Champions League and keep an eye on the progress of the England team but only rarely would I watch a game on TV and I'd never go to see a match live unless it involved Saints.

 

However, I am a huge rugby fan - but don't support an individual team. I'll watch live games on TV whoever is playing - All Blacks, Aussie, Wales, Ireland, England, southern hemisphere super 14 matches, Guinness Premiership, Heiniken Cup, Magners League; you name it I'll watch it and I'll try hard to see a live game whenever Saints aren't playing. The recent South Arica v Lions tests have been epic struggles, huge theatre and football could never top it - unless Saints are involved; every Saints game is utterly absorbing.

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I can really identify - once I moved here to Sweden - I adopted Helsingborg as a team to follow. But it is not the same - when they lose or play badly, it doesn't hurt.

 

I really thought that after being away for a few years I wouldn't care so much about Saints - and I like to kid myself that is the case - but I am on here every day checking the latest developments, and it does still hurt everytime I read of another failed takeover bid!

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I used to watch Sholing play from time to time before they disappeared and their ground became houses.

 

Mrs Ampersound and I moved just outside of Farnborough/Aldershot about 4 years ago and I've been to watch the "shots" a few times last season. It was good to watch some football live instead of on the box but it just didn't get my heart pumping like watching Saints.

 

The last Saints game I saw last season was at home against Charlton which I took my 2 year son to his first game. Really didn't think he'd sit and watch so I was expecting to leave early at some point but he absolutely loved it. He was in awe of the whole experience, the crowd, the noise and sometimes the football.... which exactly how I feel every time I watch Saints even after 35 years (assuming I was born to support them).

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There is following and enjoying football, and then there is picking your religion. Mine is Southampton F.C. I'll still watch and enjoy football if it all goes tits up, but ill never have the passion for another team like I do saints.

 

Long may Saints continue to satisfy my passion :)

 

Same as that.

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I did try supporting another team - I lived in Liverpool in 65 and thought I would give them a go. I watched two games of St John, Hunt, Yates, etc and realised that I just didn't care whether they won or lost and was missing Paine and Sydenham.

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