Hope springs eternal for Saints fans
It only took a few seconds talking to Southampton’s battle hardened fans to remind us all why football is such a beautiful game.
November 2009
With two recent relegations to contend with and Premier League football but a distant memory, we were expecting some downcast, weary souls on their way to St Mary’s Stadium for the Saints’ area quarter final with Charlton Athletic.
Not a bit of it! The passionate bunch were in great spirits ahead of the game and in no mood to feel sorry for themselves.
In fact, the atmosphere around the place is as good as it had been at any time for a number of seasons. At least according to the fans we spoke to.
Sue Lombardi, from Southampton said: “St Mary’s hasn’t been a fortress for us, but it is starting to become one slowly.
“New owners have come in, a lot of local kids are coming through the turnstiles again and the feeling around the place is really positive.
Steve Batten, who travels from Bognor Regis to see the Saints each week, said: “We’re loving it this season. Alan Pardew is the best manager we have had down here for a long time.
“He has brought a lot of knowledge with him, we’re winning games away from home and we’ve got a very strong squad.
“Pardew has said it is a competition that we should really embrace and we are doing. We had 9,000 in the last round, around 13,000 in this round, which shows how much we care about the JPT.
“A trip to Wembley in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy would be great and we’re hoping to do well.”
Phil Hamlen of Winchester said: “I think we have reached the bottom now and are on the way back. Our season is getting better and better.
“We’ve come from a real low and have fallen a long way, but we still think we can reach the play-offs yet.
“We want to go to Wembley. We’ve really enjoyed the JPT so far. It is nice seeing some of the League 2 clubs, who we wouldn’t be used to seeing usually. And it is great that there is a north and south section, so we don’t have to travel too far.”
Nathan Maple and Chantelle Legg echoed the sentiments of their fellow fans. Nathan said: “It is great to play in a trophy that we can realistically win. It is a competition that we would love to do well in.”
