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MY VISIT TO SOUTHAMPTON
K. Watanabe is the founder of Japanese Saints, the first and only Saints website in Japanese. Here she describes her visit to Southampton.
Wednesday 25 December '02
After 12 hours enjoying the hospitality of Virgin Atlantic and watching the EPL highlights programme several times during the flight, I arrived at Heathrow and stayed at a hotel in the centre of London.
Thursday 26, match day (noon kick-off) Chelsea 0 Saints 0
I was watching a Saints game in person for the very first time!
I took the tube to Stamford Bridge. Owing to a breakdown in the train service, all passengers had to get off one stop before Fulham Broadway. I didn't know how to get to the stadium from the station, but most passengers were Chelsea supporters so I simply followed them and got there presently. I bought a match day magazine. The magazine cover featured Le Saux and there were some articles with Soxy's comments. The most interesting one was 'Graeme Le Saux on James Beattie'. He wrote of the time he played for Blackburn Rovers with Beattie and how he admired his skills.
I'd bought a ticket for this match at Chelsea's general sale so my seat wasn't with the other Saints fans in the away supporters area. That's why I didn't wear a Saints shirt. The referee was Paul Durkin. I've liked Durkin since Saints beat Arsenal 3-2 at St. Mary's in November because he didn't ignore every Arsenal foul.
Before the kick-off I could see the Saints boys warming up right in front of me. Each player was wearing a black match-day sweat shirt, black home shorts and red socks which were way cool. And Dennis Rofe the masochist wore a short-sleeved shirt though it was very cold!
The game was scoreless but the result was a happy one for me. I remember thinking that if Saints scored, I couldn't celebrate as I was a lone Saints fan among Chelsea supporters.
Friday 27
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I travelled from London to Southampton by train. This was my first visit to Southampton. I was very excited on the train and when I arrived at Southampton Central Station I was so glad I couldn't stop smiling! I shouted in my mind, "Hooray! I'm in Southampton!" I bought the Daily Echo at the newspaper shop. I'd been eager to read it. I checked in at a B&B. The B&B (Languard Lodge) was very nice and my room was lovely! I felt like living in the B&B. The owner of the B&B told me how to get to St. Mary's Stadium and I walked there to get the 3 tickets I'd booked. I was very happy just to walk down the street because I was in Southampton! (I may be mad.) It took me 30 minutes to walk to the stadium. My first sight of the stadium! It's huge, bright and the atmosphere was very Saints. I was absolutely thrilled. I couldn't wait till the next day - match day!
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Bird's eye view of the stadium
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Saturday 28, match day (3 p.m. kick-off) Saints 2 Sunderland 1
I had a full English breakfast. I love a hearty English breakfast and the breakfast served at the B&B was my best ever! I ate grilled local mushroom for the first time and I loved it. One of my favourite foods is English sausage so I enjoyed that too. I miss it so much in Japan.
Inside the stadium
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I had no friends yet but I was impatient to get to the stadium early so I arrived at about 1 p.m. I saw some players walking to the stadium gate. I was impressed that every player gets to the stadium himself on match day and walks into the stadium. I think this is one of the good aspects of English football, especially Saints. Every player behaves and is treated as an ordinary person. I've read interviews of EPL footballers who used to play in Spain, France or Italy. They all say it is difficult to have a normal life or to be treated as an ordinary person in those countries whereas in England they can more or less lead a normal quiet life.
I went to the stands. How beautiful was the inside of the stadium! The pitch was green, the lights were beautiful and the atmosphere was incredible. The seats slowly filled up and by kick-off they were full. I sat in the Itchen. When the players came on the pitch I was so moved that I had goose-pimples all over. One of the highlights of the game was that the first half was interrupted by a quarrel between Dennis Rofe and the Sunderland coach. Both stood next to each other as they shouted to their players and they ended up shouting at each other. The ref saw this and put a stop to it. All the players and supporters just looked at them. It was an incredibly funny scene which I will remember for a long time. Of course the two goals (by Beattie and Tessem) were the highlights! The first goal (Beatts 73rd) was especially unforgettable. It was the first Saints goal I ever saw at St. Mary's.
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Sunday 29
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I was free so I walked around the area near the B&B. I enjoyed walking along the streets and seeing the houses in England. I like reading about English culture, especially about English houses. They are old and beautiful. One of my dreams is to buy a small old house in England.
And I went to the site of the Dell. It's near the B&B. As a new Saints fan, I regret missing the chance to watch Saints play at the Dell. But I did get to see something closely connected to Saints - St. Mary's Church.
I walked down to the port as I like ports. I live in Yokohama which has a big trading port like Southampton's. I found Southampton very similar to Yokohama in that respect.
It was very cold and rainy so I couldn't stay there too long. I decided to go again on a sunny day.
I bought the PINK which I'd been as eager to read as the Echo.
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St. Mary's Church
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Monday 30, stadium tour
Herbie
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I'd booked to join the stadium tour beforehand and I exchanged e-mails with Herbie. I told him how I became a Saints fan. We were looking forward to meeting each other on the stadium tour.
I got to the stadium and saw Herbie at the reception. I recognised Herbie at once as I had seen his picture in a Saints mag before. Some of the people on the tour said they knew about me as Herbie had mentioned me in his e-mails! There were fans from faraway countries like America and Australia. I was moved by their love for the Saints.
There were two groups and I was with Herbie. His wife Naomi is a very nice lady.
Naomi: Can you understand what Herbie is saying?
Me: Not completely (because of my not-very-good English).
Naomi: His Hampshire accent is heavy, but it's better than Gordon's Scottish. I can't understand Gordon!
Everybody laughed.
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There were photos of players (both past and current) and supporters cheering in the stands. People pointed to the photos and said "That's me!" or "That's my brother!"
Gift of a Samurai's helmet from the Japan FA to Saints
The most surprising and pleasant thing I came across as a Japanese Saint were a Japanese doll and an old Samurai's helmet on display. They were presented to Saints by JFA (Japan Football Association) when Japan played a friendly match with Nigeria at St.Mary's in October 2001. (I saw a report by a Japanese fan who described how good Saints' hospitality was and I have written about it at the end of my story How I became a Saints fan.) I heard it was the first ever FIFA-sanctioned international match at St.Mary's. Of course the first competitive international match was England-Macedonia in October 2002.
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The most exciting moment of the tour was when I walked through the tunnel! I tried to imagine the players' feelings before kick-off. I was thrilled to see the stands from beside the pitch. How big the pitch and the stadium looked! At the end of a long tour we all took a photo sitting in a stand.
After the tour we had tea/beer and talked. Someone had a Saints crest tattooed on his arm - I was moved to take a picture of it - it's a shame I don't remember his name. Steve Yolland who came over from Australia had nice things to say. We had a great time. I will remember this tour forever. Thank you, Herbie, Naomi and everyone!
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Tuesday 31
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I made a day trip to Winchester by train. I heard Winchester was the capital of England in the past (like Kyoto in Japan) so I imagined it to be a very nice old city. It turned out to be just like that. The view from St. Giles' Hill was stunning. I liked that the most.
I saw the old year out and the new year in overseas for the first time!
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Winchester as seen from St. Giles' Hill
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Wednesday 1 January '03, match day (3 p.m. kick-off) Saints 1 Spurs 0
It was sunny. Before the game I went to a pub called Encore where three friends joining the tour had asked me to come.
The supporters at Encore were all excited. I suppose the atmosphere was more exciting than for other games because we were playing Spurs. (I can't imagine how the atmosphere would be at a Pompey game!)
The atmosphere in the stadium was even more exciting. I felt the game was close in the first half, but in the second half Beattie scored! It was the second Beattie goal I'd seen in person and Saints beat Spurs! I had a Happy New Year's day.
Thursday 2
I spent the 2nd and 3rd of January with a Norwegian Saints fan I'd met on the tour. He had been to Southampton often in the past.
He was kind enough to take me to the training ground in Marchwood by bus. Unfortunately when we got there we were told the first team was training at the stadium that day. We walked around inside the Marchwood ground and talked with some of the staff. I remember chatting with a woman who was in charge of collecting, washing and storing all the shirts the Saints players wore (everyone including the youth team). The store was packed with shirts. Then we left Marchwood for the stadium but training had ended when we arrived. Reception said we would be allowed to watch training in the stadium at 10.30 next morning. I was thrilled to bits!
Friday 3
It was sunny. We met at the reception at 10 a.m. We waited there and then we were allowed to enter and we went to the stands.
The training looked light I suppose because of the tough schedule over Christmas and Saints' good fitness and results. Gordon and the players looked relaxed and happy. The most interesting form of training that day was the players dashing from point A to point B when Gordon gave a 'Simon says' signal. Gordon enjoyed giving them signals. At last the players who would start the next day practised some set plays except Bridge and Lundekvam.
We chatted with a guard, Mark. He was very kind (not least because he gave me some crisps!) and nice.
Then all the players left the pitch. Mark told us that training had ended and we should go to reception if we wanted to meet Wayne Bridge.
My Norwegian friend told me the previous day that I could meet Wayne after training at the reception. I suppose he had told the receptionist that I was Wayne's fan and that I wanted very much to meet him.
Presently I met Wayne Bridge. I told him how I became a Saints fan partly because of him. He was very kind with a nice smile. That moment will stay with me forever.
In the evening we met a couple at a pub. The man was a Saints fan and his partner a Leeds fan. They were friends of Norwegian Saint. The four of us had a great time simply chatting. Amazingly the Leeds fan lives in Southampton for business reasons but goes to every Leeds home game on her own by car.
Saturday 4, FA Cup 3rd round, Saints 4 Spurs 0 (4.45 p.m. kick-off)
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It was sunny. I had a good time before the game with some Saints fans at Los Marinos. Gradually it turned dark but the stadium looked really beautiful lighted up and all the supporters walking there were a bit drunk but happy.
The game was superb as you know! Saints put four past the North London yobs (M. Svensson 13th, Jo Tessem 50th, A. Svensson 56th and Beattie 80th)! Some angry Spurs fans wanted to come on the pitch but they were held down. Most Spurs fans left their stand early so the away supporters stand was empty when the game was over.
I was very happy about Saints' great win as it was the last game of my trip.
At the end of the day I saw four games, of which Saints won three and drew one. How lucky I was!
I visited Southampton again in September '03. I saw two home games - Bucharest (draw) and Middlesbrough (loss). Gordon said after the Boro game, "We're not Real Madrid so we sometimes lose at home." He's right and so we should savour every Saints win.
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Anders scores...
...as does Beatts
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K. Watanabe
Japanese Saints
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