The 80s saw terrible conditions as fans watched in cramped terraces with blocked
views in the rain and snow. Queuing up for ages for a slash and eating awful
food. There was a build up in hooligan firms and Saints had their own element
with regular disturbances on
home and away games. But much of that has gone due to long bans and
constant surveillance by police, cctv and stewards at games. membership cards and
the volume of season tickets means fans can be traced and tickets sold on tacked
down to the original owner has made it difficult for some fans to just go to a
game on the spur of the moment. Its more difficult to get a ticket at SMS then
the Dell now as 20,000 fans renew early for 2004/5 and with the total about
25,000 that means only about 4,000 left for 17,000 members. The 80s meant you
could go to games when you like and stand in the area you like with your mates
now its very difficult but that's supposed to be progress. Travel in the 80s was
cheap and driving/parking not a problem but now its very expensive and if you
get a parking place around SMS be prepared to sit in the car for 45 mins before
you move.
Long gone are the football specials packed with Saints fans, paying at the
gate, even getting in for free if the steward let you in now a restriction on
away fans means 1500 to 3000 fans going to an away game. Saints took 10,000 to
Bristol once for a cup game and 7,000 to Spurs and the atmosphere was electric,
the seats have muted that and they are uncomfortable with no leg room.
Saints 0 Birmingham City 1 1983
May 14th 1993 Last game of the season. 20,327.
Agboola, Armstrong, Baird, Holmes, Mills, Nicholl, Puckett, Shilton, Wallace,
Williams, Wright.
A blast from the past when a season ticket for the
Milton/Archers was £50-00, 4 pack Carling Black Lable £1-45, Fiat Strada £3990.
The Gaumont was showing Robert Palmer, Eurythmics and Bauhaus for £4-00 and for
you casuals Barberella`s Disco opened.
I had a ticket in the Upper East stand for this last game of the
season due to demand but it turned out to be a great view and not having to
barge others out the way to see that crucial shot. There were plenty of attacks
from Saints and this could have had the visitors worried if they hadn`t worked
out the goal difference between Brum and Man City.
Saints had Steve Williams and Dave Armstrong back in the team, Saints
started well but a late goal from Mick Harford sparked the pitch invasion by
both sets of fans
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I had moved down to the East Stand about 10 minutes from the
end by going out of the ground and back in ready to join the end of season pitch
invasion, as I did I noticed Brum fans were also going into the East Stand and
some round to get into the Milton. The East stand raced on to the turf several
times only to realize the ref was blowing for a free kick. When the Saints did
get on they raced to the Archers to celebrate the end of the season. The
Archers was scaled by both home and away fans which often lead to to many in one
section, you also saved a few quid in the process.
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There was a lot of fighting between both sets of fans and after some time most had left the ground but about 4000 left on the pitch started to realize that the Brum fans had got into the East/Milton and West stands and this intensified the fighting. Some fans spilled out into the road while others like myself found ourselves being locked in as the police tried to contain the situation. Brick, bottles, pieces of wood, lead piping, knives, advertising hoardings, ball bearings, all were used in this mass pitched battle and if you were around for the next hour and a half then you were in probally the worst trouble at the Dell. This sort of situation was common in the 80s and you could find yourself in a difficult situation even if you had not intended to. Most fans wanted to get on the pitch for the traditional end of season party and to see the players in the directors box and try to grab a players shirt.
The matches are a different story now as all games are tightly policed and fans wont risk a lifetime ban from their beloved club.
Saints 0 Everton 1 FA Cup Semi-Final 1984
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| `Southampton, Southampton` the Red and White Army get on the move. Where's the bloody pub then? | Saints fans get the drinking started thinking of a Worthington goal. |
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Saints fans pack in Highbury |
Saints fans give the lads a super reception. `You Reds` |
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| Frank Worthington blasts a shot that hits the bar | Saints battle on as trouble starts to the right, fans fight and get on the pitch, some say Skates were in the right side but none came out when Saints got there. |
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Fighting breaks out every where and saints fans try to abandon the game with minutes to go |
They think its all over, it was then, unfortunately for Saints the scoucers won with a lucky late goal |
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Saints fans can't believe it, we were the superior team during that season and hopes were high. Hoards of saints fans went to Highbury on 14th April 1984 (att: 46,578). Saints finished second in the league with 77 points. Team: Shilton, Mills, Dennis, Williams, Wright, Agboola, Holmes, Moran, Worthington, Armstrong, Wallace. |
