who is the Saints oldest fan. I am 83 and supported from afar when I was 10 and in person when moved to Totton

[Totton Saint]

I remember Terry Paine and John Sydenham. What a character Brian O'Niell was!!

 

[OldNick]

watching Saints for over 55 years makes me feel 105

[spyinthesky]

But do you remember Len Wilkins last game before he retired and emigrated to Canada or watching the Busby Babes, including Duncan Edwards, beat Saints Youth (including Messrs Paine and Sydenham) in the First Leg of the FA Youth Cup?

My first lapel badge showed a picture of Don Roper.

I actually look about 40 years older than the date shown on my birth certificate as a consequence of all the disappointments, heartache and stress suffered as a long time Saints fan, and I wasnt even born here!!

I need Sympathy or Psychotherapy.😒

[sad saints fan]

First game with my Dad would have been 1965 but at 7 years old it didn't make much impression on me . Started regularly in first season in the 1st division . Went with Dad for a few games then there was a crowd of us from Bevois Town school and we used to meet up in Lodge Road and go down together . 

[Saint Fan CaM]

I wanted to be Billy Bremner when I was a kid (I’m not a ginge 😉), so naturally followed Leeds Utd not really understanding the significance of ‘home’ teams. Then as I got a little older I wanted to go to live games and Leeds was obviously too far, so started going to Saints reserve games at the Dell. I could only just afford the bus fare from Swaythling to Shirley, so kids getting in free at the Dell was the only way I could watch a pro game. I loved seeing the first team players coming back from injury and playing in the reserves to get back to match fitness. The key thing I guess in hindsight is that watching pro live football was the impetus to me switching to supporting Saints proper - as a kid, it provided a deeper connection than watching on TV.

Does the Bremner idolising give my age away? 🤔

[Barton Saint]

1967 first game I saw in the West Stand against Forest won 2-1 58 years ago as a 9 year old it had me hooked as a Saints fan forever 

Paine and Davies scored 

[Verwood Saint]

First game Jan 1967 (birthday treat aged 11) 4-4 draw with Leicester

Ron Davies hattrick and one for Martin Chivers - Gordon Banks was in goal for them and Peter Rodrigues was playing full back.  Great way to get started eh?!

 

[Tommy Mulgrew]

First game was Millwall at home to Accrington Stanley at the (old) Den in the early to mid ‘50s with my dad and then several other home games there; we used to walk from the East End of London under the Thames at Rotherhithe and onto the ground, which was nowhere near the new Den.  Later Brentford home games with my dad and uncle before, from 1960 onwards, supporting Saints always at the Milton Road end at the Dell, first with my dad and then without him.  St Mary’s, sadly, gets nowhere near the atmosphere at the Dell.

My username gives a clue to whom the crowd generally blamed if we were not winning.  I’ve been through loads of ups and downs with Saints but nothing as bad or prolonged as the period since the demise of the team in the late-Ralph period.  I cannot seem to help it but red and white blood still surges through my veins and almost every week nowadays I endure disappointment; the occasional exciting wins are few and far between.  😞

😇

[Charlie Wayman]

Heading should have been "Who has been the longest suffering Saints fan"

My first match was v Swindon in the FACup in 1948. 

Edited 14 hours ago by Charlie Wayman

[Toussaint]

1 hour ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Heading should have been "Who has been the longest suffering Saints fan"

My first match was v Swindon in the FACup in 1948. 

Bloody hell Charlie, that’s some going. 

Edited 13 hours ago by Toussaint

[die Mannyschaft]

Watched Saints for 48 years, 28 years season tickets. First full season 77-78 promotion. Brilliant football,  lots away games. Skived off school at evening games away, got platform tickets to get on train, football  specials packed and just jump on last minute. 80 also very entertaining. Did Hamburg v Saints first European away game 84. Used to climb over Archers wall, get in just after KO and give the steward bit cash if sold out. Winchester used to have few independent coaches for away games, allway could meet up outside with mates or find in same terrace not like now with purchasing seat upfront. Still got tickets from 80s and programmes from 77-78 onwards. 

[Football Special]

Been going for years ever since my Dad first took me down the Antelope Ground, miss the old days 

[Toussaint]

7 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Been going for years ever since my Dad first took me down the Antelope Ground, miss the old days 

That ceased in 1896, let’s say you were ten when you first went. That makes you 138 years old, at least. I can’t see anyone beating that anytime soon. Congratulations 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

25 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Been going for years ever since my Dad first took me down the Antelope Ground, miss the old days 

I thought we could never lose after watching us dismantle Freemantle on Northlands Road.

[LiberalCommunist]

The last seven seasons have felt like a hundred years for me. Does that count?

[Turkish]

9 hours ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

I thought we could never lose after watching us dismantle Freemantle on Northlands Road.

Been a season ticket holder since the days when the home games were at the Common. Saw us beat Northam Gasworks 4-1 and i was hooked, not missed a game since. We were very angry when we changed our name from St Marys YMA to Southampton, i wrote a strongly worded letter to the club about how we were losing our tradition.

On a seperate note I was surprised to see that young man ejected on sunday for being on the pitch, back when i started going people would often enter the pitch on the common exercising their right to roam. Another example of how mass uncontrolled immigration has take away our liberties. 

Edited 1 hour ago by Turkish

[Fitzhugh Fella]

I still haven't got over being robbed by a snowstorm in the 1898 FA Cup semi-final v Forest