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The importance of fans


RobM

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No, this isn't another 'be the difference' type of thread, you'll be pleased to hear.

 

Just about to watch Posh Vs B'Muff and Sky did a nice little intro of all the promotion chasing clubs. It showed Brighton first, of course, and I felt genuinely pleased for them and their progress and I really do want to see them promoted. Later was B'Muff and I thought... I really want to like you, I really used to like you, but I just can't like you.

 

The difference, IMO, is the fans. B'Muff fans have been nothing less than arseholes this last couple of seasons. But I've not seen the same BS from Brighton fans, so I wish them well.

 

I also have a lot of time for both Carlisle and Sarf'end as their fans were absolutely great when we have played them.

 

Millwall have a reputation for thug-like fans and thug-like football tactics. So is it really the fans that create a clubs reputation, regardless of what the club does?

 

I wonder if we're the reasons many other clubs don't like Southampton FC?

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I wonder if we're the reasons many other clubs don't like Southampton FC?

 

From what I gathered, we were very popular in the premiership and the second team of many. We've been arrogant since our relegation, and rightly so, which is why other teams fans don't like us down here.

 

Fact is though, in 5 years time they'll still all be rotting down here, long forgotten while we're back in the big time.

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All fans are the same regardless of the club they support. Some are mongs and some aren't. Proximity makes you notice them more and so because of circumstance we've happened to notice Boscombe a bit more. They've probably always had their fair share of prats but it's just that now we've had to acknowledge them a bit. In Boscombe's case it's a shame as we've always had a bit of a soft spot for them - no problem though as I'm not that bothered. As for Brighton - there's plenty spouting off. Let's face it though - most fans, regardless of who they support, have sung "we're by far the greatest team the world has ever seen" which just goes to prove how deluded we all are.

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'B'Muff fans have been nothing less than arseholes this last couple of seasons'

 

Rob - I'm sorry that you have this view. Its a shame as there are quite alot of us who aren't that bothered about Saints, and have enjoyed the banter etc..BUT I think that we are just too close for there not to be some needle - even though we have never hardly played each other - its unavoidable really. I'm sure Southend were lovely, but they are miles away though, its probably different when it comes to West Ham etc..

 

You have been a little arrogant though ( a personal opinion) only because we haven't got that in the past from Wednesday, Forest and Leeds fans. But then is probably as they are miles from us too!

 

I suppose it just generalisations that grate - Not all of us are arseholes, not all of you are arrogant.

 

P.S Good old Fletch LOL!!

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Out of interest.. I know we complain about other teams singing OWTS, but how long have we sung it for, and were we actually the first ones to sing it?

 

I know that we have been singing it for the 42 years that I have been attending - I would also imagine that we were the first to sing it as I cannot immediately think of any other football teams that share the nickname of " the saints "

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I was happy when Bournemouth were promoted to League 1 this Season and hoped they'd do well, I was still pleased to see them doing well and in the Play Off positions early on in the Season too and maintaining it.

 

I did however waiver slightly in my opinion of Bournemouth when seeing some of the bile being spouted from their supporters towards us, that from a club that I'd been quite happy to support as a 2nd team which had in my past had a friendly business connection with a then member of my family.

 

Since both of our Home and Away fixtures with Bournemouth have now been fulfilled I've found that a lot of the vitriol from them has gone and I find myself hoping they can keep their campaign going again, but not at our expense of course! The same pretty much goes for Brighton too, and I expect that our "rivalry" with them too has only been due to the closeness of promotion between us all this season, I don't recall any previous maliciousness between us or even the Saints V Spurs incident until we found ourselves in the same league as Promotion contenders (Brightons Trophy now :()... I don't recall hearing it mentioned last season when neither of us were Promotion bound? I remember the final game at The Dell as a good natured friendly between both sets of fans... if I recall a Brighton fan in the East Stand removed his seat and held it aloft thinking he was the first to start dismantling The Dell when virtually the whole Archers End raised their own removed seats too in response that was met with a cheer and clapping around the ground followed by more removed seats from Brighton raised in gesture as a fun goodbye, none were used or thrown in anger, it was all good natured and fun and continued to be after the following pitch invasion and in the pubs after.

 

Again with Brighton and with all at stake this Season, I have a momentary dislike of them as a football team at times, and only because in the same manner as Bournemouth their fans look for further reasons to dislike us when in the past it hadn't been such an issue... as per last game at The Dell.

 

To answer the OP, yes... fans can shape the opinion of the Club, as closest neighbours to Portsmouth you need look no further, even a friend who supports Pompey can offer a compliment to a Saints performance or player but you'll still wonder if he means it when he smiles.

 

A couple of other slightly different examples:

 

In Upper West Stand at The Dell I was lumped by a Leeds fan when I cheered our only goal in a 3-1 home defeat around 94/95, and getting set upon by a few West Ham fans and pummelled in a shop door way when we beat them I think 2-0 despite a Jason Dodd sending off are reasons I will always dislike these two Clubs in particular, and no, both of these were unprovoked attacks while sat in a home enclosure cheering a saints goal and walking back to my car alone after a game.

 

Teams I do like are Blackburn and Norwich in particular, not only because of the games but because of the fans before, during and after the games I've experienced too. Both Home and Away whether we've Won, Lost or Drawn them I've always found fans of both these clubs likeable, despite our brush with Norwich in the JPT and who could forget the 4-5 at Carrow Rd and the 4-3 at St. Marys.

 

Overall, I think a lot of our opinions and feelings toward other Clubs depend on our own experiences with them day to day, and I suppose why Pompey are our closest rivals and Bouremouth, Brighton aren't and never have been except for the few that may have had closer incidents in the past until now.

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I know that we have been singing it for the 42 years that I have been attending - I would also imagine that we were the first to sing it as I cannot immediately think of any other football teams that share the nickname of " the saints "

 

St Mirren football club in Ireland. You're welcome ;)

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It's just the way football works, of course Brighton and Bournemouth are going to enjoy the fact that we're not doing as well as we wanted to.

 

I'm sure there was similar bemusement from Spurs fans when we got all angry about them 10 years or so ago. Or when we played the FA Cup final and accused Arsenal fans of arrogance, it was simply because they expected to win it.

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