The Stop Aways
Monday, 24th Nov 2008 12:29

Coming to a football stadium near you.

On Saturday the 15th of Nov 2008 I returned to the fold for the Saints v Wolves clash. Though I'll say straight away it was a one off.

I wasn't myself at all impressed to say the least, with the subsequent return to SFC by the current Lowe & Wilde regime. Especially after the now departed Nigel Pearson's magnificent effort, in such a short space of time, keeping a somewhat uninspired Saints squad, in the Championship. This after the club having already fallen out of the Premiership, several managers and three boards ago.

I decided that was enough for me. Recent history has in my opinion not given Saints fans the necessary entertainment that the team mostly provided me with, since boyhood. The value for money has in my view not been there either.

Why should I in fact continue to spend money I don't really have as I make my way in semi retirement on something I was no longer enjoying? I also resent those blinkered zealot like Saints followers both old and new, who try to tell us, the so called "ranting minority" stop-aways (about 14,000 of us actually) how we should spend our hard earned cash. I wouldn't dream of telling them how to spend there's. Other than maybe to recommend membership of the "Flat Earth Society". For in my own humble view their logic in pontificating about continuing to support a once great - but now unrecognisable institution - is in the same denial league. Or, at best, misguided loyalty.

Sometimes though fate takes an unexpected hand. By the summer I was back at St Mary's on a training course tied in with my present job. So technically my own particular stadium exile didn't last too long. Ah, but that wasn't actually attending a match was it? However not even the lure of Glasgow Celtic could tempt me. As it turned out this particular traditionalist would not have been happy anyway. For commercialism even had to spoil that. For the famous "green hoops" were not apparently in evidence as the "Celts" may have just as well been "Canaries".

Then to cap it all, I go and win two tickets for the Wolves clash. Yes indeed a much bigger crowd was at St Mary's than of late but that was boosted by a Wolverhampton Wanderers following, that has always throughout my 48 years following professional football, been of the more fanatical variety. Wolves pedigree is in fact massive. A club laden with various honours and the first to pioneer the taking on top European clubs, in a series of matches during the mid fifties, that eventually became the catalyst for what these days is known as the Champion's League.

Early in this game, today's Wolves side threatened to copy those great old timers and run riot through a promising but quite obviously naive current bunch of Saints youngsters. To Saints credit they battled hard and kept trying to play decent football throughout, looking neat in their approach work. There is though, no cutting edge. The loan - and surely certain eventual sale of Stern John - will not help whatsoever.

The defence seems only ever one mistake short of another mess up and if it was not for keeper Kelvin Davis (who is now justifying what we all thought was George Burley's misplaced faith) Saints would be rock bottom. I feel sorry for Jan Poortvliet it's not really his fault .He just doesn't have the material at this moment in time.

Meanwhile I'll continue going to the Silverlake where those Spitfires, Eastleigh, have served up some cracking home entertainment this season. You couldn't wish to see a more thrilling game than the recent storm lashed victory over Hampton and Richmond or the 3 a piece thriller with Hayes and Yeading. Neither have I forgotten the visit of the truly loyal support of a club straight out of football folklore, Newport County. Once a football league side themselves, yet still well followed, especially away. Even this far south, for an evening game.

Non league is I think so much more enjoyable. Much like the pro game used to be.

Sorry Saints, you were once a fine club. Who also in your time boasted some fantastic players. It would be hard to better the CV "playing squad wise" down through the years for a club of your size. Yes it was nice knowing you. But these days I know you not. For despite the crowd trying to lift the young side on occasions, I could have been at any similar stadium in the country, other than on my old stomping ground.

For the fabled "Spirit of Southampton" has disappeared somewhere in the ether. That in my estimation has nothing whatsoever to do with missing fans. For those that accuse us should look to what drove us away in the first place.

Footnote: A slightly edited version of this article was published in a recent copy of the Daily Echo (21.11.08).

Chris Newman would also like to say (whatever views you may hold) that he wishes "Ugly Insiders" both past and present, all the best in health and happiness both now and in the future. He says:- "I've met some brilliant people during all those years following Saints (and seen some great players) and also enjoyed the fun many of us have had, being part of the cult that became the fanzine movement. Which although has perhaps lessened, or at least presented itself differently since the advent of the Web (yes there was a time before the internet lest we forget) still survives to this day. So, as the late great comedian Dave Allen used to say (what a funny bloke he was):- Goodnight good luck and may your god go with you.

Photo: Action Images

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