Your Greatest Saints Memory

[Willo of Whiteley]

As the title says. Slow news week, lots happening around the club at the moment so thought I’d ask this after a conversation I had recently.

What’s a moment that sticks out for you?

I’m in my early 30’s so I’ve witnessed three relegations, three promotions, two pitch invasions, three Wembley trips including a cup final win; and that’s just the events.
Some of the games I’ve seen in that time 8-0 vs Sunderland, beating Liverpool in the cup semi-final, JPT victory at Wembley, a play-off final win at Wembley; and think of some of the goals in those games, the moments you’ll remember forever.

Whats your favourite? What sticks out as your “I’ll remember that forever” memory?

Have a Merry Christmas all. Enjoy!

[Tommy Mulgrew]

For me, how could it not be the 1976 Cup Final win against ManUre?

[millsy]

So many good and bad memories over the last 40+ years of supporting Saints. But for some reason, the stand out result for me was the 4-1 demolition of Liverpool in '89. That was such a great team, full of both experience and youth, and all good characters. Liverpool went on to win the league that season, and that result somehow made up for the FA Cup semi-final defeat in '86 at White Hart Lane. Unfortunately, I was at Highbury in '84 for that semi-final as well, which is probably the most painful game I've been to. Beating Watford at Villa Park in 2003 is a close second in terms of the best, but the match against Liverpool is the one that really sticks out.

[Stud mark of doom]

Got to be the MLT winner in the last game at The Dell. Incredible.

Not in that league, but also enjoyed the winner in the 4-3 v Norwich in the relegation year because of the amazing celebrations, anticipating yet another great escape. 

oh, and losing my Fez at Selhurst Park, beating Wimbledon in the actual great escape.

Trip to Milan was great too - pity about the result. 

[Dr Who?]

Play off final for me. Never known anything like it as a Saints fan, and was there with my 12 year old son! A little too young for the 76 cup final, but was born. 

Edited Tuesday at 21:59 by Dr Who?

[Hamilton Saint]

Saints being promoted to the First Division in 1966. Martin Chivers scored thirty goals in the '65-'66 season (and Ron Davies scored forty-three goals in the Saints' debut campaign in the First Division).

[Lighthouse]

Game - 8-0

Single moment - Gabbiadini’s equaliser.

[VectisSaint]

1st May 1976

[Breeny]

My three favourites 

76 semi final FA at Stamford bridge when we filled the shed end and beat palace . The final itself when we beat Man U at the old Wembley . 
The championship play off at Wembley vs Leeds to get back into the premiership….travelled from Australia for that one ! 

[richie]

Beating Man Utd on pens in FA cup 1992.

[EssEffCee]

Final whistle and celebrations of play off final.

Gabbiadini's equaliser and the following 20 minutes or so in league cup final.

4-0 at Fratton (can't believe I'm the first to mention this).

Beating Inter at home.

I'll also echo another posters shout for the 4-3 Norwich game in 2005.

Edited yesterday at 06:51 by EssEffCee

[Kingsland Codger]

So many to choose from but it has to be 1 May 1976. Off the field, I can recall being gobsmacked on hearing the news Laurie Mac had signed Kevin Keegan.

[franniesTache]

For single games then i don't think i can go far from the 4-1 win against liverpool under Nicholl, which i think is still probably the best Saints game i've been to.

Aside from that the JPT just because it was a celebration of us still having a club, beating Inter Milan and playing at the San Siro (things i could never have imagined as a nipper), the league cup semi final win at Anfield, the 4-0 at Fratton in the league cup, the 6-3 against United at the Dell, and a bit of a leftfield one Dellhurst, just because i don't remember ever seeing so many Saints fans at a league away game

[Oh no Mick Mills]

Kevin Keegan signing was incredible. 

Even more so now with the benefit of hindsight. 

We were all out on the street playing  football when it was announced...11 years old and you're hearing that the best England player is joining us!!

[Winnersaint]

1st May 1976, closely followed by 26th May last year.

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

A couple of off piste suggestions. Obviously not in the same league as the above, but honourable mentions for things that stand out for me.

2003 cup run (despite the loss in the final)

JPT final

Play off 2nd leg v Derby (despite the loss)

The first game after Liebher took over - friendly v Ajax but just the sense that we had our club back, properly.

First game back in the Championship v Leeds (suddenly the belief that we were REALLY back)

Rickie Lambert's equaliser v City the following season.

The 8-0 v Sunderland.

Gabbiadini's winner v Swansea.

Play off victory.

 

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

53 minutes ago, Oh no Mick Mills said:

Kevin Keegan signing was incredible. 

Even more so now with the benefit of hindsight. 

We were all out on the street playing  football when it was announced...11 years old and you're hearing that the best England player is joining us!!

Not a patch on Rudi Skacel signing though.

[josebaiw]

Late 30s here. 

 

Watching us get promoted back to the Premier League on my phone, whilst refusing to come out of the work stock room.

Watching the 8-0 vs Sunderland in a random hotel in Winchester.

 

JPT Final with my dad and a lot of Guinness. (I managed to hold the vomit until I got back to Isle of Wight, which still impresses me)

That 6-3 game against United. Watching it update on Ceefax lmao. 

Getting to see MLT play for us for my whole childhood. Especially when they played a friendly against an Isle of Wight XI near my childhood home and I met him! Made my day as a tiny nipper.

[Miltonaggro]

1 hour ago, Oh no Mick Mills said:

Kevin Keegan signing was incredible. 

Even more so now with the benefit of hindsight. 

We were all out on the street playing  football when it was announced...11 years old and you're hearing that the best England player is joining us!!

On reflection, that's it for me as well.  Keegan was the first modern superstar, England skipper and holder of the Ballon d'Or when we signed him.  It felt incredible at the time, and would be absolutely impossible now.

[Miltonaggro]

Close second:

[Lee On Solent Saint]

One that sticks out for me was my first European game at The Dell. Was a one all draw against Limerick from Ireland, must have been 81-82 season. Remember nothing about the game, but as a then eight year old I found it incredibly that we were playing teams from other countries. 

[derry]

As a schoolboy in January 1960 third division Saints were playing first division Manchester City at Maine Rd in the third round of the FA Cup, a big deal in those days. A special train to Manchester and back was laid on for Saints supporters, it was packed. On arrival at Manchester all the Saints supporters en masse marched around central manchester singing, to the hotel Saints were staying at. They all came out onto a balcony to salute the supporters. What an atmosphere.

Eventually we arrived at the massive Maine Road stadium. The match kicked off against City full of internationals. Cliff Huxford pulled a muscle early on but with no substitutes in those days it was either carry on or go off. He limped through the match and played a stormer. As did the whole team. In the finest individual display I've ever seen, Terry Paine tore City to pieces, four goals for Derek Reeves and one for George O'Brien against the great Bert Trautmann saw Saints win 5-1, what a day it was.

[CheshireSaint]

Danny Wallace's overhead kick v Liverpool Friday 16th March 1984. I was 12. Watching that goal and win on a Friday night, I ran around the our close in celebration. Pretty much every football fan around was Liverpool. 

After that, Saints related, Rickie Lambert coming off the bench v Scotland on debut in 2013 and scoring that header. That's my favourite Saints (related) memory of my adult life (41). I went mad. 

JPT Final was a bloody good day out too.

[DT]

2 hours ago, Oh no Mick Mills said:

Kevin Keegan signing was incredible. 

Even more so now with the benefit of hindsight. 

We were all out on the street playing  football when it was announced...11 years old and you're hearing that the best England player is joining us!!

Me too. Didn't he sign him after bumping into him on a flight or something. Amazing. I loved that era - including having players like Shilton, Ball, Channon, Nick Holmes, David Armstrong, Dave Watson and the rest. Incredible team, playing unbelievable football in real stadiums with real atmospheres, no VAR and brilliant Patrick kit (loved those boots). Halcyon.

[East Kent Saint]

FA Cup win , I watched it so many times !

Then the 8-0 win at St Mary's we were all so happy as we left the ground such an uplifting experience,  we of course had to suffer the latter years of getting a point at home was a victory! I don't think I'll get back to St Mary's now at my age but I will always remember the Dell matches and days out at St Mary's 😀

[lumuah]

I was there when Frannie scored....

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

The 6-3 and 3-1 victories v United.

As a poor school kid in Dorset surrounded by Man Yoo fans, it was rather enjoyable.

[BallBoy]

I have seen it all since 1967 but Matty's goal in the final game at the Dell still the most special moment ever. Just magic.

[LGTL]

Late 30’s so I haven’t exactly been spoilt:

0-4 at Fratton

Europa League campaign, beating Inter and doing the aways

The joy of MLT as a kid and the last game at the Dell

6-3 and 3-1 against Utd. 

Going to the Dell every week with my Grandad. He died last year but such special memories

8-0 v Sunderland

Doing every game in the 2011-2012 promotion season 

EFL Final - we really should’ve won that game. 

 

Edited yesterday at 18:15 by LGTL

[Saint Fan CaM]

The JPT final and seeing Markus enjoy himself, knowing he had made a huge difference. That stuff is priceless…even more so than ‘76 probably.

[WealdSaint]

I'm almost 60. But I would go for beating Inter Milan in November 2016.

Standing in the  Northiam Stand with my son singing

We've come from League 1

We've come from League 1

We are Southampton we've come from League 1

 

We've come from League 1

We've come from League 1

We are Southampton, we beat Inter Milan 

[LiberalCommunist]

JPT with my old man. That memory gets sweeter by the year. 

96/7 final day drama. Not cried tears of joy many times. 

And a shout out to Lambert held high after beating Coventry.

Lets tribute smash 'em this weekend! 

[sadoldgit]

Can’t remember the season but it was in the Channon era. Stoke at The Dell. 3-0 up at half time. Stoke pulled three goals back in the second half including a 30 yard screamer by our ex centre half Dave Watson. The place erupted when we scored the winner deep into the game.

The 1976 FA Cup Final obvs.

The Charity Shield v Liverpool too where we played better than the final but lost 1-0.

The last few games of the Great Escape were incredible. I think I still have the t-shirt somewhere.

[Gloucester Saint]

Late 40s so FA Cup win was my parents generation (they were there). Ditto Keegan signing and the amazing 1980-82 sides (Keegan modelled his Newcastle sides on that).

First season was 1983/4 - finishing second, Liverpool home win on BBC1 (very rare in those days), 8-2 v Coventry, although pain of FA Cup semi final.

4-1 win v peak Liverpool at the Dell 1989.

Knocking Man U out on penalties early 90s.

Bally and Lawrie’s return - Liverpool home in the snow, Newcastle away who were hammering everyone at home, Norwich 4-5, Villa home with more MLT magic and their fans Scotland at Wembley 1977 impression, then survival v the odds at West Ham final day, with another pitch invasion.

Newcastle home, 3 goals in last 5 mins with the tannoy announcement to sit down.

3 successive home wins v peak Man U - including the grey shirt 3-1 and infamous 6-3.

SMS opening, winning 4-2 at Chelsea under WGS. 2002/3 as a STH, FA Cup Final, Europe, beating peak Arsenal at SMS, Claus’s first goal.

JPT final, successive promotions, Poch, Ronald our best manager since Lawrie, Sunderland 8-0, successive 4-0 v Newcastle, back to back Old Trafford wins, 4-2 comeback win v Liverpool, 6-1 v Villa and Mane hat-trick, 4-2 City.

EFL final, beating Inter and seeing us play in San Siro, Gabbiadini at Swansea. Play off final at Wembley.

Edited 23 hours ago by Gloucester Saint

[Gloucester Saint]

5 minutes ago, sadoldgit said:

Can’t remember the season but it was in the Channon era. Stoke at The Dell. 3-0 up at half time. Stoke pulled three goals back in the second half including a 30 yard screamer by our ex centre half Dave Watson. The place erupted when we scored the winner deep into the game.

The 1976 FA Cup Final obvs.

The Charity Shield v Liverpool too where we played better than the final but lost 1-0.

The last few games of the Great Escape were incredible. I think I still have the t-shirt somewhere.

1980/81 - just before my time but have seen clips of it.

[Gerrys Dark Forest]

Early 50's so started going in late 70's so loads of memories.......league Cup final with my dad  in 79 was special despite the loss....had never seen us win at Wembley (missed JPT) and saw us lose again to Man U and Chelsea before the Leeds game with my own son .....so that was a special day......

[Badger]

24 minutes ago, sadoldgit said:

Can’t remember the season but it was in the Channon era. Stoke at The Dell. 3-0 up at half time. Stoke pulled three goals back in the second half including a 30 yard screamer by our ex centre half Dave Watson. The place erupted when we scored the winner deep into the game.

The 1976 FA Cup Final obvs.

The Charity Shield v Liverpool too where we played better than the final but lost 1-0.

The last few games of the Great Escape were incredible. I think I still have the t-shirt somewhere.

 

19 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

1980/81 - just before my time but have seen clips of it.

Out by a year. It was 1981/2.
 

The remarkable thing that season is that we went top of the League after beating Middlesbrough away in January (I was there !!) and were top of the table longer than anyone else that season, but fell away. 
 

The game SOG refers to was after we’d been overtaken at the top. But that win put us back on top. I think Mark Whitlock scored the late winner. 

Edited 23 hours ago by Badger

[Badger]

The signing of Keegan is probably the greatest moment to recall, like the shooting of JFK, you can remember where you were and how you heard it. When visiting down that way I often drive past the Potters Heron and recall that was the venue from where Lawrie and Saints shook the football world.

[Badger]

In terms of matches my greatest memories:

SF v Palace 1976 

The final in 1976. 

Fratton 1984 - will never forget the Saints end erupting when Moran scored.

JPT 

Play off final

1989 4-1 v Liverpool 

Goals:

MLT first v Newcastle 1993 or 4

Channon v Liverpool 1982

Ruddock penalty v Newcastle 1989

[Stud mark of doom]

54 minutes ago, Badger said:

The signing of Keegan is probably the greatest moment to recall, like the shooting of JFK, you can remember where you were and how you heard it. When visiting down that way I often drive past the Potters Heron and recall that was the venue from where Lawrie and Saints shook the football world.

I was in primary school in Woolston - annd often going to The Dell with a few classmates. I can remember our headmaster coming into our classroom - on route to all classrooms with the incredible news - and asking the teacher (neither of whom had ever mentioned football as far as I can recall) whether he could have a word. 
 

The teacher then announced the important news to the class. Probably the most memorable school day of my life! 

[Thripp87]

A very left of centre one, but one of my favourite away days was Millwall in the Championship promotion party. Lambert tucked away 2 dubious pens in the last 10 mins to win it for us 3-2. 
The years under Adkins were the best for me. Proper football.

[kwsaint]

 

[Yorkshire Saint]

Ruddock Penalty v Newcastle 

Barry Horne V Bolton

Playoff final

Cardiff for the wall of yellow.

Liverpool 4-1 (Shearer Wallace Rideout etc)

Letissier!

Dellhurst park

The Milton Road

Long v Liverpool 

John Burridge warm ups

So many moments .. love them all.

 

[Turkish]

The introduction of bar code scanners on the turnstiles

The day they announced the fan zone area

The opening of the Oakwood Lounge on non match days

The prematch light shows

[steve green]

1976

Bobby Stokes scores a goal. My dad drinks most of a bottle of whiskey in 15mins. He vomits.

Full of emotions I decide to visit my best mate Alan who lives in a caravan on Segensworth rd. I miss some buses.

I walk to Titchfield from Maybush. I enter a pub there to try and phone a friend of Alan. He's out.

Just as the locals are about to eat me (I thought they'd be happy about Saints win, oddly they were not) Alan bursts in having driven his mighty CB250 Honda to Southampton and back several times looking for me. With a cheery "up the Saints" we mount his throbbing machine and retire to his caravan where we play prog rock, annoy his girlfriend and drink some tea.

 

We knew how to have fun and celebrate in those days.

[Tamesaint]

What a brilliant thread. So many memories. As Sajnts fans we have had a thin gruel when it comes to winning trophies but at least we enjoy our good moments. 

For me a couple of moments are

Gabbiadini's goal at Swansea. I was near the front that day and near the players ' celebrations. The look on Gabbiadini's face after he scored was the look of a man possessed. 

Steve Moran. Portdmouth. January 1984. Need I add any more??? 

 

 

[DT]

15 hours ago, BallBoy said:

I have seen it all since 1967 but Matty's goal in the final game at the Dell still the most special moment ever. Just magic.

That was pretty special. What a story.

[Oisin]

I wasn’t at the final game at the dell so missed what would undoubtedly have been my favourite moment.

So as it is I’m going for Liverpool 4-1 as favourite game, play-off final for favourite experience/atmosphere and as a small boy, Steve Moran’s late equaliser against Leicester in a 2-2.

I was hooked!!

[John Boy Saint]

1 hour ago, kwsaint said:

 

That was a great moment - at 3-3 the whole stadium had risen to its feet to add a bit more oomph to push the team on - it was electric. When that seemingly Daisy cutter hit the back of the net, WOW the noise and emotions were immense, it was mentioned at the time that people in Shirley could hear it.   

So many of the above already mentioned

FA Cup obviously - Granny being woken up by Grandad, my sister and me bouncing round the living room like loons when Bobby scored "have we won!" no WE scored, and so began the longest 7 minutes in living memory.

Keegan signing - getting home from school and the phone ringing - my mate round the corner "quick turn on Newsround, you will never believe who you have just signed!!!" - You would never get the absolute joy of that signing surprise ever again thanks to Sky Sports news and the cesspool of the internet. Neither would Saints have gotten away with increasing  match ticket prices the 50% that they did, hardly anyone noticed such was the Keegan effect. you got a split of the gate receipts back then, that first season with Keegan especially, every other teams highest attendance was playing against Saints. And all thanks to Lawrie needing a particular light bulb for his house.

I think the journey from League 1 to the Premier League when "our Nige" was in charge was great, we weren't a big fish we were a damn big Shark - some of the football was sublime to watch - football finances wouldn't allow what we did then now. Leeds thinking they were introducing Lee Barnard to the crowd alongside a feature in their match programme, the same night we were getting the news that Lee was 250 miles from Leeds sat in SMS having signed for us last minute.       

[rallyboy]

I think it was the day I sat in the concourse listening to our very own radio station, dining on world class catering while stroking a marmoset, special times.