MARCHING WITH SAINTS

LIAM HARDING REFLECTS ON THE UPS AND DOWNS OF FOLLOWING SOUTHAMPTON...

- LIAM HARDING

AS A proud Hampshire man who had already supported and volunteered at his local club Basingstoke Town and was now studying sports journalism at Solent University, round the corner from St Mary's, I decided a while ago that it was finally time to purchase a Southampton membership.

Due to being related to Ted Drake (my Great-Grandad), who played for Saints and was the club's top scorer for three seasons in the early 1930s, I'd always looked out for their results, alongside the fact they are the closest Football League club to myself in Hampshire.

After becoming a member, I instantly purchased a ticket in March 2023 to watch Saints face Brentford on a mild Tuesday.

Within moments of finding my seat before kick-off, I realised just how much Southampton meant to me and my family despite never having gone to a game previously.

Whilst listening to the brass band play "Oh when the Saints go marching in" around the circumference of the pitch, I felt an inner sense of pride for the city and club, and was over-whelmed by a great sense of emotion. However, that night it was clear to me that Ruben Selles' Saints faced an uphill struggle for Premier League survival. Ivan Toney set the visiting Bees on their way to a comfortable 2-0 victory.

After catching the Southampton fever, I planned to go back and watch them versus Bournemouth in late April when it was crucial to pick up points.

After walking to the game in the rain, things didn't brighten up on the pitch. The Cherries knocked down their south coast rivals 1-0 with ease, the scoreline hardly reflecting the entire 90 minutes.

There was even more agony for subdued Saints fans when, in the dying moments of the match, Che Adams' 'goal' was disallowed for offside by VAR.