A REMINDER OF DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
London Saints Golf Open - 29th April 1.30pm - Chilworth GC, Southampton
London Saints Pool/Darts - 29th April 7.30pm - Fisherton WM Club, Wilton Rd, Salisbury
London Saints AGM - 22nd May 7.30pm - Goat Tavern, Stafford Street, W1
Lawrie's in town! - 26th May 7.30pm - Barley Mow, 104 Horseferry Rd, SW1
Scroll down for further details
Wednesday April 26
YELLOW ON SUNDAY!
In order to help celebrate the 30th anniversary of Southampton's historic 1976 FA Cup win, supporters are being encouraged to wear yellow in the final match of the season against Leicester.
It is hoped that a fantastic atmosphere will be generated as we celebrate the end of ‘seasonis horribilis’ and can hopefully look forward to better next year!
Monday April 24
NEW SPONSOR LANDED
Low fare airline Flybe has confirmed it is to be Saints new shirt sponsor in a multi-million pound three-year deal. Flybe will replace Friends Provident as the main club and official shirt sponsor at the end of the season.
There is no new deal for the stadium naming rights, so when Friends Provident is taken off the façade, the club's home will be known simply as St Mary's.
Exact figures for the deal, which puts Flybe branding on all first and reserve team strips, are being kept under wraps. The new kit will be available to supporters from July 2006.Flybe claims it will now "reward fans with flight ticket give-aways at every home game" and other benefits include assistance "where possible" with travel to away games.
LSSC are unable to comment as to whether planes flying over the ground will tow banners making reference to the current Chairman!
Friday April 21
LAWRIE SPEAKS TO LONDON SAINTS
Lawrie McMenemy is to speak to London Saints as part of the anniversary celebrations of 1976. He will be joining us on Friday May 26 at The Barley Mow Pub at 104 Horseferry Road, London at 7.30pm. The hearest Tube stations are Victoria and St James's Park.
Tickets are £5 (free to under 16s) - there is food on the night. Reserve your place now by contacting Andy Saunders or Mick Strickland - contact details in the Members' area.
CLAUS IS YOUR MAN!
London Saints members have voted overwhelmingly for Claus Lundekvam as Player of the Year for the 2005/6 Season. He took 68% of the vote.
REMINDER OF DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
London Saints Golf Open - 29th April 1.30pm - Chilworth GC, Southampton
London Saints Pool/Darts - 29th April 7.30pm - Fisherton WM Club, Wilton Rd, Salisbury
London Saints AGM - 22nd May 7.30pm - Goat Tavern, Stafford Street, W1
Scroll down for further details
Saturday April 15
MARCHWOOD LOWDOWN
For a closer look at the changes that Sir Clive Woodward has bought to Saints’ training facilities at Marchwood, click on the following link-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/southampton/4909032.stm
Friday April 14
SAINTS EXIT INEVITABLE - WOODWARD
Sir Clive Woodward accepts he will have to leave Southampton to fulfil his dream of managing a football club.
The 50-year-old, who led England to rugby union World Cup success in 2003, realises that a long reign for George Burley could force him out of St.Mary’s.
Woodward said: "I'm confident George is going to be here for a long time, and the club needs that sort of stability. "I do want to manage a football club, but if George is successful that means I won’t get the chance here”.
Woodward, speaking at the launch of Southampton's new £1.25m Dome training facility which he set up, admitted his current role at St. Mary’s is frustrating. He said, “At the moment I’m more of an administrator, which doesn’t sit well on my shoulders. I would prefer to be in charge of a team, but I’m not after George’s job”.
"I helped bring him here, and he is the boss. He buys the players and picks the team. That's something I hope to be doing one day, although I might have to drop down a couple of divisions to do it”.
LSSC comment: And there we have it; a reflection of Woodward’s talent and arrogance in one sitting. It is probably fair to assume that Saints were falling behind with their training facilities and the set-up appears impressive. So to date, his achievements are a reflection of a contribution that can successfully transcend from one sport to another.
However, the next stage of his plan is an entirely different matter. What on earth does he feel qualifies him for even a non-league appointment, let alone a lower division club without the necessary background and experience. He has landed a dream job and apparently a dream salary, but it would appear that this is not enough and Saints are just a stepping stone!
Thursday April 13
DON'T PANIC - JONES OFF TO GERMANY!
SAINTS striker Kenwyne Jones has been named in Trinidad and Tobago's preliminary 24-man squad for the World Cup finals.
Coach Leo Beenhakker has named the squad for a friendly against Peru on May 10 and will be trimmed to 23 for Germany.
Trinidad are in Group B, where their first game is against Sweden on June 10 before taking on England five days later and Paraguay on June 20.
Jones, left, started the current campaign with two goals in his first three outings, but has only netted three Championship goals in 16 starts plus 15 as a sub. The 21-year-old also scored Saints' late FA Cup winner at Leicester in January.
Jones is one of four likely Saints players to be in Germany this summer. Alexander Ostlund (Sweden) and Polish pair Grzegorz Rasiak and Kamil Kosowski are expected to join him.
Wednesday April 12
BURLEY BLOODS THE YOUNGSTERS
Wales under-21 defender Gareth Bale, former roommate of Theo Walcott, will become the second youngest player in Southampton’s history when he
makes his debut at Stoke on Saturday. Bale will be 16 years and 173 days when he steps out at the Britannia Stadium, 30 days older than Walcott when he became Saints’ youngest ever player in August last year. George Burley will also name teenage striker David McGoldrick, 18, who has scored 39 goals at youth and reserve level this season, in his 16-man squad. Burley said: “Gareth is a good young player and deserves his chance while you cannot ignore David after all the goals he has scored this season.”
Tuesday April 11
LONDON SAINTS DATES: the AGM
The London Saints Annual General Meeting will be held on Monday, 22nd May at 7.30 p.m. at:
THE GOAT TAVERN, 3 STAFFORD STREET, W1
NEAREST TUBE: GREEN PARK – WITHIN 5 MINUTES WALK
LONDON SAINTS GOLF DAY
The London Saints golf open will be held on Saturday April 29 at Chilworth Golf course, near Southampton. Could all interested members please contact tom.henson3@ntlworld.com
GOLF AND POOL NIGHT
After the golf, the sporting action moves onto Salisbury - from 7.30pm at Fisherton Working Mens' Club at 15 Wilton Road, Salisbury SP2 7ED. Make a day of it and see Saints last game of the season the next day
Wednesdy April 5th
FURTHER SHAREHOLDING CHANGES AS LOWE GETS TWITCHY
City investment firm Invesco Perpetual have sold their 9% share of Southampton Leisure Holdings. It is believed that local engineering magnate, Leon Crouch is the purchaser who whilst has no direct links with Michael Wilde, he obviously shares his frustrations of the current regime.
Crouch has stated, "I have seen what's happened. I have seen the decline of this great club and I feel frustrated, like the supporters," he said. "We got into the cup final and the top ten of the Premiership and it has gone from bad to worse ever since."
"That's because of the bad decisions taken by the chairman and the board. The buck stops there."
"We need a change at the top. Lowe has had enough time to make a success of Saints and he hasn't. It's not personal- the fact is, he's past his sell by date."
Lowe’s responding comments come across as very ‘backs against the wall’.
“This share purchase changes the balance of power in terms of the shareholding but it doesn’t change the way the club operates. The club is run by the board and we will wait to see what these guys have in mind”.
“I don’t know how the cards are going to fall but I do not think that it is in the Club’s best interest for me to step down at the moment”.
“If I go now it will bring instability to the club at the very time when we need it least”.
SO HE’S PROVIDING STABILITY????????
As we already know, Lawrie McMenemy has little faith in Lowe. In a minor, but pertinent move, he has further proved this by giving power of attorney to Michael Wilde on his 160,000 shares.
Friday March 31
IF ONLY OUR CURRENT CHAIRMAN COULD COMMUNICATE LIKE THIS!
Follow the link
http://www.saintschat.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=95483
Thursday March 30
WILDE INCREASES HIS INVESTMENT
Michael Wilde’s shareholding in Southampton Leisure Holdings is now 16.5% following his recent investments. This figure is forecast to rise to 18.3% over the coming weeks following agreements with Keith Wiseman and Brian Hunt.
It is highly likely that Mr Wilde will be elected to the Board of Directors in the summer and so at this stage does not appear to be a particularly hostile action – however it is believed that he has identified areas of improvement having spent time at the club.
It is also worth noting that Rupert Lowe purchased an additional 100,000 shares in the company increasing his stake to 6.7%.
WELCOME TO THE FLYBE ST.MARY’S STADIUM!
As expected, Saints today announced the termination of their 7 year sponsorship agreement with Friends Provident.
A new sponsor is due to be announced at the end of the season; believed to be the airline, Flybe, who have previously sponsored Birmingham City. Presumably the level of investment will be significantly down on recent seasons, increasing the financial pressure on Saints with season ticket sales expected to be taking a fall next season. Still there’s always the money from the sales of Crouch, Beattie, Phillips and subsequent huge savings on salaries!
Wednesday March 29
HERE'S SOME GOOD NEWS!
Saints Reserves bought the mighty Arsenal down to earth at St.Mary's tonight as they hammered their counterparts 5-1.
David McGoldrick and Djamel Belmadi scored two each with Marian Pahars also netting.
Hope the first team were watching!
Saturday March 25
YES IT’S PESSIMISTIC BUT…..
That’s the way things are at the moment. With the appalling state of affairs at St.Mary’s it’s very difficult to envisage another win this season – remember we only have 2 league wins under George Burley.
The current dire form suggests that what a few weeks ago would have appeared a comfortable set of fixtures really looks as though the unthinkable is about to happen.
Take a look at the respective closing fixtures of Saints, Sheffield Wednesday and Millwall – are these predictions unrealistic?
Saints (currently 42 pts)
Burnley (a) L
Cardiff (h) D
Brighton (a) D
Stoke (a) L
Millwall (h) D
Crystal Palace (a) L
Leicester (h) D
46 pts
Sheff.Wed. (41)
Burnley (h) W
Crewe (a) D
Norwich (h) W
Brighton (a) D
Reading (h) L
Derby (a) L
49 pts
Millwall (36)
Brighton (h) W
Derby (a) L
Plymouth (h) W
Saints (a) D
Burnley (h) W
Crewe (a) D
47 pts
Now obviously football wouldn’t be football if it was that predictable but two things are for sure – Saints are deep in the crap and the Millwall match on Easter Monday is a biggy!
Thursday March 23
ANOTHER NEW SHAREHOLDER
Mystery surrounds the idenitity behind the latest man to buy a vast amount of Southampton Leisure Holdings Ltd shares.
A stock market announcement yesterday revealed that Sarwan Singh now holds 995,000 shares in Southampton FC's parent company - which amounts to just over 3.5 per cent of the total issued shares.
T D Waterhouse, one of a handful of nominee companies which holds shares in the club, said they now hold 1,108,220 shares - of which Singh has the vast majority. The rest are held by small investors.
Last month Jersey-based businessman Michael Wilde purchased 2,542,733 shares from businesses in the name of Saints director Paul Thompson.
A few days later Wilde, above, increased his overall share total to 3,062,470 giving him over 11 per cent of the total shares and dwarfing chairman Rupert Lowe's personal holding of 6.3 per cent - the largest single shareholding on the club's board.
Wednesday March 22
WELL THEY SAID WE WOULDN’T BE IN THIS DIVISION FOR LONG!
The following is a right tale of woe of a club I just don't recognise anymore; I just feel the need to have a rant – Wingfield style!
There are plenty of clubs of similar size to Saints who now find themselves away from The Premiership having spent many seasons in the top flight and feel they have a divine right to be up there; Leicester, Coventry, Derby, Sheffield Wednesday and of course Nottingham Forest to name a few. Indeed larger clubs such as Newcastle and Manchester City have been where we are and recovered.
But none of these club’s respective declines have been as dramatic and depressing as we have endured over the past 20 months. It is really beginning to look as though we are going to be playing at this level for years to come.
It is clear that this downturn in fortunes began the day Gordon Strachan was allowed to leave. Relations began to turn sour after WGS allegedly requested £4 million to spend in the summer of 2003 following the FA Cup final appearance and 8th place in the league. He had apparently identified particular targets needed to push on in domestic and European competition. Rumour has it that the main target was Steed Malbranque who was available for a fee of £2.5 million; a player in the best traditions of the club, but then what does Rupert Lowe know about the club’s traditions. The requests were turned down.
Those figures appear small beer against the backdrop of the loss of Premiership football.
Monday night’s inept display against Watford really bought home how far down we’ve come. Without wishing to knock George Burley when the real cause of our fall is far more deep-seated, he is kidding himself if he thinks that we will be challenging for promotion next season. His radical overhaul of the squad has left us with an over dependence on loan players that will have little incentive to sign for the club during the summer break. Yet again a lack of continuity beckons with the inevitable results.
This season’s relatively healthy season ticket sales have obviously been down to the general belief that Saints would be challenging this season; supporters did not want to lose their seat if we were successful in a quick return – a thought process encouraged by Saints appalling marketing campaign last summer. We can anticipate a marked downturn in gates next season and given that the current board have no track record of ‘speculating to accumulate’, then funds will continue to be in short supply.
For me the most depressing aspect of recent events is not necessarily the decline in status of the club but the abandonment of everything that made the club such a joy to support over the past 4 decades.
Peter Berkeley
Wednesday March 15
TRIBUTE TO OSSIE
As you are probably aware, Peter Osgood's funeral took place in the village of Shedfield yesterday. Representatives from Saints, Chelsea and the world of football in general turned out in numbers to pay their last respects to one of the greats.
Follow the link to the 'Saints Forever' website and read a lovely article by Michael Channon (son of Mick) offering an overview of the day itself and his memories of Ossie.
http://www.saintschat.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=93165
Monday March 13
SNODIN JOINING SAINTS
Charlton Athletic's reserve-team manager Glynn Snodin is joining Saints as First team coach. The former Leeds United left back will team up with George Burley this week after spending the past six seasons running Charlton's second string.
The 46-year-old says the chance to work in first-team football was an opportunity he could not miss out on.
"While Southampton are a league lower, it's a step up for me in terms of first-team coaching and that's the only reason behind the move," Snodin told Charlton's official website.
"Over the last six months or so, I've had the feeling in the back of my mind that I wanted to challenge myself again, to see how far I can go."
Friday March 10
SRI LANKA: UPDATE FROM CAMP COCONUT
To Dave Thomas: "Thanks for sending us through the link to your news and photos on the RFH site. Regarding the cricket nets, we have been so busy that it has been difficult to find the time to project manage the nets. However, we have levelled the ground, put up a fence and laid a concrete base. I have located some proper matting and commissioned the making of the frame from the cheapest proposal - the frame should be ready in 4-5 days!
"I am considering using some heavy duty, small gauge fishing nets for the netting as this works out a lot cheaper than actual cricket nets. We have 41 local boys (aged 9-14) signed up to start regular cricket nets with us as from April 1 - they are so excited about having the chance to play with a proper hard ball and proper kit! The trampolene is taking it's time from China. I have been advised we should get it in about 4 weeks. We have also purchased 25 trees yesterday and had them delivered to Camp Coconut. We will be using these to extend the adventure course as well as building a new tree house for the kids.
We are now entertaining groups of up to 50 children on four afternoons a week. We offer basketball, netball and volleyball facilities for children from local schools to come and practise on 2-3 early evening sessions and we have the whole facility offered to deprived groups of children over the next four weekends. I hope all is well with all your colleagues from London Saints. We really appreciate everyone's efforts to raise money for Camp Coconut and it was great that you were able to find the time to visit the facility - I was only sorry, personally that I couldn't be there to welcome you all. www.campcoconut.blogspot.com
THE SRI LANKA TOUR CRICKET SLIDESHOW!
For pictures from the tour, go to the slide show - and turn the sound up! More pictures will go up soon, so log back in for more shortly - plus read the match reports and background to the tour further down this page. Many of the images came Ian Shiels, who has a great gallery of his own at www.murrayfield-dafscc.co.uk/photos_srilanka.htm
_____________________________________________________________________________
Saturday 4th March
WILDE ANNOUNCES HIS PLANS
Earlier in the week, Michael Wilde increased his share holding to around 12% and has released the following statement regarding his intentions.
"The reality is that I am passionate about football and want whatever is best for the Club - and that includes being able to watch Premiership football at St.Mary's on a permanent basis. I have already expressed my desire to see continuity on the coaching and playing side and have publicly stated my support for George Burley and Sir Clive Woodward. However, I believe that there are many improvements that urgently need to be made in respect to the Club's senior management structure and decision making process - this is the area that I am most concerned with at the present time."
"These structural improvements are not, necessarily about personnel, but are issues of corporate governance; transparency; and accountability. They also concern, as I have said before, communication and responsibility to the local community at large. I have specific views in this connection, but it would be improper for me to canvass them publicly before I have had the opportunity to discuss them with the present Board. However, I believe, that there are significant improvements which could be made which would enhance confidence, stability, customer and employee satisfaction, and ultimately performance both on and off the field. A process of analysis, evaluation and change would need to be adopted as an ongoing cyclical process which would allow the Club to adapt and evolve as circumstances change going forward."
"I am not saying that there will not be times when difficult and dramatic decisions have to be taken - progressive and evolutionary change will always bring such moments. We must learn to embrace change not to fear it."
Wednesday 1st March
OSSIE DIES
Saints and Chelsea fans alike will be devastated at the news that Peter Osgood has collapsed and died at the age of 59 whilst attending a family funeral this morning.
London Saints' President Ossie made his name at Chelsea but immediately endeared himself to Saints supporters on joining in 1974. He always played the game with panache and with a smile on his face.
He formed an entertaining partnership with Mike Channon and of course led the line during Saints finest hour in winning the 1976 FA Cup. He was always known as a playboy but his most famous conquest was surely bedding the famous old trophy itself!
Saints are planning a 1 minute silence to mark the passing of Ossie and fellow Saints legend, Charlie Wayman who also died this week.
Monday February 27
SIR CLIVE ON 5 LIVE!
Follow the link and listen to Brian Alexander's candid discussion with Sir Clive Woodward, the 2nd half of which is devoted to his ambitions with Saints and football in general, also covers his relationships with Redknapp, Lowe and Burley.
His England World Cup triumph and disastrous Lions Tour also feature heavily.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/index.shtml?logo
Friday February 24
KEEPER COVERED
George Burley has turned to a tried and trusted keeper as cover for Bartosz Bialkowski. 37-year-old Kevin Miller worked with Burley during a loan spell at Derby County last season and the duo will now link up once again after he agreed a non-contract switch to St Mary's. Miller began his career with Exeter City before going on to enjoy spells with Birmingham, Crystal Palace, Watford, Barnsley and Bristol Rovers. It is expected that the journeyman shot-stopper will warm the bench for The Saints when they take on Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.
Friday February 24
SAINTS TAKEOVER GATHERS PACE
NOON UPDATE: The shares were bought by Michael Wild, a former lecturer in social housing at Singapore University. His company is called Merlion Housing based at Winchester. He has a box at St Marys and he stood up during the 'stand up if you want Lowe out' chanting. Around £1.25 million worth of Saints shares were traded yesterday when a director sold the great majority of his shares at a 10% premium to the share price, writes John Quinn. They were sold by Paul Thompson, who only joined the board two years ago, and who is an accountant and company director and was obviously brought in as “a friend” by Lowe and Co. It appears that the shares were not bought by anyone closely connected with the existing board. I reckon there are around 28 million Saints shares issued so around 9% changed hands yesterday and are now most probably under one person’s or one group’s control. If so they have to tell the stock market by close of business Monday. There is a short statement on the website. This only now smells of one thing – a serious effort at a takeover.
* For The Times' story on the sale, go to www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,435-2056082,00.html
Tuesday February 21
THE LOAN ARRANGER TO STRIKE AGAIN!
It is looking highly likely that Bartosz Bialkowski’s season is over following his bizarre injury at Newcastle on Saturday. The extent of his ligament injury will be assessed over the next few days with a distinct possibility that surgery will be required which will mean the end of an impressive first season. If that is the case then George Burley will almost certainly add to a lengthy ‘loan’ list by bringing in an understudy to Paul Smith. In Bialkowski’s absence, it will be hoped that Smith will be able to recapture the form that he displayed when deputising for Antti Niemi last season. Should this be the case, then next season could be approached with the knowledge that Burley would have two top quality ‘keepers to rely on.
Thursday February 16
MAC MEETS MADGE!
Former Saints manager Lawrie McMenemy received an MBE from the Queen yesterday for services to football and for his charity work. Lawrie is now chairman of Special Olympics Great Britain for competitors with learning difficulties, said after the investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace: "It's absolutely fantastic to receive the MBE. "The Queen asked me about my time in football and I reminded her the last FA Cup final she attended was when my team won it and she presented us with the cup."I've also stood outside Buckingham Palace, during national service I was in the 1st battalion Coldstream Guards."
Lawrie, who was recognised in the New Year's Honours List for his services to sport and his extensive charity work, was accompanied by his wife Anne and two of his children. Asked to pick the best moments from his long football career the 69-year-old said: "Winning the cup final was a highlight, also finishing runners-up in the league to Liverpool by three points and winning the championship with Doncaster in my first job." Following a 12 year spell as boss at The Dell from 1973 he moved onto Sunderland, number two to England manager Graham Taylor and Northern Ireland manager although he will always be best remembered for his time with Saints. Lawrie is also president of Age Concern Hampshire and has worked with the organisation Scope. He is patron of a number of charities including Leukaemia Busters, the Rose Road Association, Wessex Heartbeat and the Hampshire Autistic Society.
Wednesday February 15
DON’T USUALLY REPORT ON RESERVE GAMES, BUT……………
Tim Sparv bagged a last minute winner against Porstmouth tonight as Saints reserves came back from a goal down at half-time to triumph 2-1 at Havant.gainst a strong Pompey team Stewart Henderson's side found themselves a goal down at the break - despite bossing much of the first period.
But in the second half David McGoldrick levelled just after the hour mark - notching an incredible 31st goal of the season in all competitions - before Sparv wrapped up the result with his first of the campaign. In the dying minutes he latched on to Simon Gillett's free-kick from the right of the box and rifled home to decide the second string derby clash.
Tuesday February 14
'EXPECT ACTION THIS WEEK'
The man fronting a consortium planning to buy out Saints and remove chairman Rupert Lowe finally faced fans last night and told them to expect action this week.
Millionaire businessman Andrew Strode-Gibbons, 39, addressed an audience of about 600 supporters at Central Hall in St Mary's, Southampton, to say he was confident that a deal would be done shortly and he would do everything within his power to oust Mr Lowe.
But after expressing reservations about attending the meeting in the first place, the Northam End season ticket holder was unable to reveal the consortium figurehead many fans had come to see for what he called "legal reasons."
And when asked Mr Strode-Gibbons, 39, confirmed he personally wouldn't be buying Saints but that the proposed consortium comprised local people who are all Saints fans. "I'm deeply saddened by the demise of this club, my grandfather would be turning in his grave," he said.
Monday February 13
CONSORTIUM TO REVEAL THEIR COLOURS
Saints fans and shareholders are being invited to a supporters' meeting tonight where they will hear Andrew Strode-Gibbons outline his consortium's takeover plans. The New Forest-based businessman is heading a consortium of local businessmen with a view to buying into Saints and ousting Rupert Lowe as chairman.
Though Strode-Gibbons has gone quiet in recent weeks, he is due to attend tonight's meeting at The Central Hall in St.Mary's (7.30pm).
Strode-Gibbons recently told The Daily Echo, "I want to let the fans know who I am and what I am about and that I am serious; that I haven't lied to everyone or led them up the garden path. I want to put people's minds at rest".
"It is very possible I will be able to identify the other members of the consortium on Monday - possibly."
There will also be an `open stage' session tonight whereby any fan can speak to the assembled audience.
Sunday February 12
WILL LOWE EVER LEARN?
Once again Rupert Lowe’s obsession with his own PR looks as though it will drag Saints’ name through the mire at a time when the priority for him and Clive Woodward should be concentrating on helping George Burley rebuild the side in time for next season.
The bad blood between Saints and Pompey looks set to continue as Milan Mandaric has vowed to sue after the war of words between the clubs continued.
Lowe claimed that Harry Redknapp’s return to Fratton Park followed an illegal approach and he lodged an official complaint to The Premier League which saw Portsmouth charged with breaching its "approach rules."
Lowe claimed during the week he could not trust Redknapp and was glad to see him leave. An attack which has sparked an angry response from Mandaric and he is ready to take legal action against Lowe and Saints.
"This is the final straw. As far as I'm concerned, Harry and the club are going to take Southampton to the cleaners," Mandaric told the Sunday Mirror.
"I'm done with Lowe. What man would demand drawing up clauses in a compensation contract to protect himself, his club and their rugby coach only to go out and publicly breach it himself?
"Over the last few months he and other Southampton club officials have accused us of all sorts of things including dishonesty, gambling and illegally poaching a manager it turns out he was glad to see the back off.
"I want a refund on my money. According to him he sold us a dishonest manager who can't be trusted so I have to accept I've been completely conned and must be the world's most lousy businessman.
"I'll keep Harry as part of the compensation package because it's not his fault that he's a football man and doesn't know anything about rugby or hockey.
"Rupert Lowe's attack on Harry and Portsmouth is unwarranted and outrageous. If I'd known what he was really like I wouldn't have spent £5.70p, with discount, on the duck I sent him at Christmas."
Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie confirmed the club had instructed lawyers to look into Lowe's comments.
"Harry Redknapp has given us a copy of the compromise agreement that clearly states that neither he or Southampton can make derogatory or disparaging comments about each other," said Storrie.
"As a result of the very public comments made by Rupert Lowe we have instructed our lawyers to take immediate action on both Harry and the club's behalf."
Friday February 10
MATT'S CLOSER TO 'MOTHER IN LAW'
Make of this what you will. According to The Evening Standard Property News 'celebrity section', Matthew Oakley is selling his Winchester home and moving to Kingston - on - Thames to be close to his girlfriend's parents. Perhaps the 'Football hunk' (their words) is being lined up for Chelsea with a swap deal involving Frank Lampard????
Thursday February 9
CRICKET TOUR UPDATE: LONDON SAINTS ON THE NHS WEBSITE
The efforts of LSSC cricket team skipper Dave Thomas in organising our tour to Sri Lanka have been recognised at his office - the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead. Take a look at the write-up on www.royalfree.nhs.uk
BOOK NOW FOR CREWE ON MARCH 11
Tickets for the game are available at £18. It's likely to be a popular trip, so place your rail ticket orders with Mick on M-Strickland@dfid.gov.uk and Terry Trevis (match tickets) ASAP to avoid disappointment. You can e-mail Terry on trevis@southampton.gov.uk or terry@ttrevis7.wanadoo.co.uk or call on 01722 325742 (H) or 023 80832477 (W). Train times are 10.03 from Euston (arrive 12.38) and 17.14 from Crewe (arrive 20.11) and the return is £24.
Wednesday February 8
"RASIALDO" JOINS SAINTS FROM SPURS - THE ANSWER TO OUR GOAL DROUGHT?
Spurs striker Grzegorz Riasiask is joining on a three-month contract with a view to a £2m transfer ths summer. Here's what The Times had to say about him, and the Poland squad's, prospects in the World Cup....
PROSPECTS
When Maciej Zurawski was asked to explain England's poor form in the early part of this season, the Poland and Celtic striker claimed they had too many stars and that they could not play as a team. The same charge cannot be levelled at Poland, whose only real household name is Jerzy Dudek.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Michal Zewlakow is a full back or midfield player who fared well at left back against England in October. It should be easier to identify him now that his twin brother, Marcin, has drifted from the international scene.
RASIAK RIBBED
Grzegorz Rasiak's clumsy technique has earned him the ironic nickname of Rasialdo, a reference to Ronaldo, in his home country.
Monday February 6
BAGGIES MIDFIELDER HERE FOR 3 MONTHS
Richard Chaplow (the shaven headed one) has signed a 3 month loan deal at St.Mary's. Chaplow, 20, signed from Burnley for £1.5million pounds a year ago has failed to hold down a regular starting place at The Hawthorns with 5 starts this season. However he recently scored twice in an FA Cup tie at Reading - same again Friday?
PALACE CHAIRMAN ON RUPERT LOWE
As Saints fans blocked the Itchen Bridge in a sit-down protest after the Derby game, Palace chairman Simon Jordan today said he liked the Swing Lowe song booming around the stadium - and advises him: "Sell up and go back to a life of ruddy-faced luxury." Read his damning and well-argued critique of Lowe from today's Observer newspaper.
* What's your take on Jordan's argument? Let us know on the forum
FOUR LONDON SAINTS IN HOSPITAL
Tests confirmed today that LSSC all-rounder Paul Wathan broke his finger in two places on the cricket tour of Sri Lanka. He is being kept at UCH Hospital in London pending emergency surgery following the squad's return last night. The X-ray came after Wath, 45, stopped a ball on the boundary. Doctors expressed surprise that a) he didn't know he had broken his finger and b) that Wath stopped a boundary. "I'm starving," texted Wath from his hospital bed to fellow Sri Lanka squad members. "Anyone want my season ticket for tomorrow?" The news follows the hospitalization of Mick Stanley, 48, in Sri Lanka for a dislocated finger and that of Steve Keenan, 48, and John Griffiths, 42, who both stepped on sea urchins while on a post-match break in the south of the island. Squad skipper Dave Thomas denied the ages of his team had anything to do with the rash of injuries. "It's a co-incidence that these setbacks had anything to do with a bunch of middle-aged blokes on the lash in temperatures of 35C. I have every confidence in the squad's ability to be ready for the new season in June."
* Stop press; Wath released from hospital after 12 hours when 2nd doctor opinion was : "What are you doing here?" Fingers strapped and Wath spotted at Derby game. * Go to www.timesonline.co.uk/travellogs for more medical and tsunami-related reports from the tour
THOSE TOUR STATS IN FULL
BATTING
M Innings Runs Highest Not Out Ducks Average
Burrell 3 2 35 20* 1 0 35.00
Quinn 3 2 27 18* 1 0 27.00
Keenan 3 2 38 33 0 0 19.00
Griffiths 3 2 18 18* 1 1 18.00
Jones 2 2 27 26 0 0 13.00
Kumar 3 3 35 16 0 0 11.66
Shiels 3 3 25 18 0 0 8.33
Shadick 2 2 16 10 0 0 8.00
Hotston 2 2 15 11 0 0 7.50
Ramdial 3 3 18 15 0 1 6.00
Speedtwin 3 1 4 4* 1 0 4.00
Wathan 2 2 8 4 0 0 4.00
Thomas 3 2 4 2 0 0 2.00
Berkeley 3 2 1 1 0 1 0.50
Rogers 2 2 0 0 0 2 0.00
BOWLING
Overs Maidens Runs Wickets Average Runs per over
Wathan 5 1 18 4 4.50 3.60
Shiels 8 2 30 2 15.00 3.75
Kumar 12 1 49 3 16.33 4.08
Rogers 13 4 54 3 18.00 4.15
Thomas 10 0 85 4 21.25 8.50
Loones 4 0 26 1 26.00 6.50
Burrell 6 0 48 1 48.00 8.00
Keenan 14 0 108 2 54.00 7.71
Griffiths 12 0 94 1 94.00 7.83
Quinn 6 0 44 0 ++ 7.33
Berkeley 12 0 107 0 ++ 8.92
Ramdial 2 0 26 0 ++ 13.00
CATCHES
3 - Berkeley
2 - Wathan
1 - Ramdial, Griffiths, Rogers, Quinn, Keenan, Speedtwin
THIRD DEFEAT BUT NO DISGRACE
SRI LANKA ROTARIANS 213 (Wathan 3-6, Thomas 2-14)
LONDON SAINTS 148 (Keenan 33, Burrell 20no, Shiels 18, Quinn 18no)
In the final game of the tour, London Saints again came up against a strong mix of youth and experience - but with the the team acclimatising to the conditions (another bloody perfect, windless day of 35c) we narrowed the margin of defeat to just 65 runs. Another three games and we'd have had 'em.
The venue was Kumar's old college and it was the first time he's been back since 1966. But things haven't changed - the current college First XI have four boys in the Sri Lanka U19s, and another old boy is current fast bowler Vaas.
The college cricket coach wasn't too happy with the pitch being used, as Zimbabwe U19s were due to play a warm-up the next day. Still, their game couldn't have been as entertaining as ours.
Johnny Quinn and Little John opened the bowling - LJ being the 22-year-old son of Reggie drinking stalwart Where's John. And with his fourth over, LJ produced a beauty to take the bails off the opener. It was lovely stuff. But progress was slow: for us. Not so for the opposition.
Two batsmen retired at 35no, including four sixes off Lord Lucan. After 14 overs, they had rattled up 112 runs - scoring, as usual, an average eight an over. But then among 10 bowlers, DT chipped in with two wickets (including his 350th for London Saints) and Wath decimated the lower middle order, with two in two balls - and a hat trick ball missing the stumps by a whisker. He had to retire after three wickets, the only LSSC member to do so all tour.
The Councillor, despite a gashed mouth sustained in a brave fielding manouevre, also claimed his first wicket on tour with a fine leg break, Lucan got a C&B and Speedtwin took his 50th catch off fine bowling by Ian Shiels (who later revealed in the bar that he is the son of a copper born in Portsmouth: didn't DT run checks on our new boys?). We restricted the opposition to 213 - compared with targets of 280 and 219 in the previous matches.
Our batting started well, with new boy Ian Shiels and Kumar putting on 41 without loss - until Kumar was again given out LBW by a London Saint umpire. This time he reckons he was plumb. Then Ian was bowled and, predictably, the collapse followed - Joe Ramdial, The Councillor (0) and Wath all out with the score at 49-5.
Late hitting by Lucan, with his highest ever LSSC score (aided by terrible fielding and three lives), Johnny Quinn and Garry Burrell improved things considerably, the lower order putting on nearly 100 runs. It was our best performance in the field, commented DT.
Other highlights? With Pete Berkeley not getting a bat this time, Reggie was celebrating his 2-1 run victory on tour. Then there was the diving competition in the college pool after the game - Wath's Christine won it for style, Gary (Pyscho)Burrell for bravery off the top board and Speedtwin for the biggest impact.
And of course the camaraderie in the college bar later, with rounds of Arrack (local firewater) for the three records set, singing and Lion beers.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Wath. He finished joint leading wicket taker on tour with DT - four - and bowled three of his victims, while being an ace away from a hat trick.
CHAMPAGNE MOMENT: DT, after climbing to the top board in the pool, climbed all the way back down. Then back up again, didn't look, and jumped.
LONDON SAINTS TEST OUT SRI LANKA - 2ND MATCH
SRI LANKA ROTARIANS 228-7 (Rogers 7-2-12-2)
LONDON SAINTS 114 (Jones 27, Burrell 14)
The scene was set wonderfully for the second game on the 25th anniversary LSSC cricket team three match tour of Sri Lanka, writes John Quinn.
The magnificent faded splendour of the former Test ground chimed with the history of the touring party – all had seen better days but were determined to put on a show. The team collectively thought it had died and gone to cricket Heaven.
The De Soysa stadium, just a few miles outside of the nation’s capital of Colombo boasts a strip that could stage the Subbuteo world cup finals (and a few days later is to stage the Cricket World Under 19 Cup warm-up games).
Its pavilion has plaid host to countless Test players, including current members of the England cricket team who had represented their country at the ground. Now unbelievably, the LSSC side, looking resplendent in their new shirts and badged caps, would play on the ground.
Even the sight of Big Dave, the team’s travelling umpire, ambling gently to the middle modelling a purple and gold sarong under his umpire’s coat and above his black socks failed to dim the teams’ bright expectations.
Sensibly the captains agreed the home team would bat first – with a number of former first class Sri Lankan players (including a fringe former Test member), albeit well past their sale by dates, the opposition were likely to be more than a match for the LSSC team.
Because of the enthusiasm and size of our touring party a 12-a-side game was decided upon with Little John, Reg and the recently arrived Mick Stanley making up the number of the home side.
With temperatures as high as made no matter Joe conducted the now standard team stretching. Phil paced out his run from the Colombo end, happy to be opening the bowling from the wicket where the experienced Sri Lankan Umpire Association registered official would give the decisions rather than Big Dave, who Phil hadn’t quite agreed with during the earlier game on the tour.
Phil steamed in inspired by the pain from his sunburn collected while snorkelling the previous day. Bowling with pace and swing he dismissed the opposition’s numbers two and three for just five runs and looked pretty much unplayable. Note to skipper – book Phil a half day session on a sun-bed prior to next important game.
From the start LSSC side looked a different team from the one that had been hammered so comprehensively a few days earlier. The fielders stopped doing impersonations of bad jugglers and held their catches, the bowlers aimed for a good length instead of their own feet and the side had a belief that they could put together what is known in the cliché school of football quotes as “a performance” even if they were unlikely to get a result.
As the midday approached the temperature rose and wickets fell. The skipper chipped in with two while Kumar, Ian Sheils and Gary Burrell added one each. Phil, who refused to be kept out of the spotlight (including his constant and un-requested advice to the skipper on fielding positions), took the catch of the match by diving two-handed to his left to dismiss Reg of off DT’s bowling.
The only LSSC member who failed to congratulate Phil was Pete Berkeley who was desperate to claim Reg’s coiffured scalp for himself! Arguably the highlight of the innings was Pete raising his two arms together to line himself up for a skied catch only to quickly rearrange the arms over his head and duck to protect his bald patch from the ball as it headed towards him out of the sun that was blinding him!
Mick Stanley was the last man standing for the opposition. It was 12 aside, we had taken seven wickets – bizarrely all falling at the same end – and the other four batsmen had retired upon reaching 35 runs as per the rules of our tour – and he proved the immovable object.
Even the opposition captain could not believe his eyes when Mick scored a cracking four “round the corner” and ordered his team to call it a day one over short of the allotted 36.
The magnificent but dilapidated scoreboard, still showing names of the last almost famous team to play at the De Soysa stadium, finally stopped clinking over with the home score showing 228 for seven – a huge improvement on our first game.
Lunch was served on the second floor of the pavilion, an open sided room that gave great views of the ground and palm trees swaying in the breeze. A selection of curries followed by a desert of local fruits in a salad was consumed with enjoyment but few words – everyone was too knackered to talk!
By the time Kumar and Andy Jones marched out purposely to start the LSSC fight back a small crowd of school children, delinquents and never-do-wells had gathered to watch in the pavilion stand – obviously the delights of daytime TV has not yet caught on in Sri Lanka.
Kumar scored five but was then unlucky to become the first victim on tour of Big Dave’s raised index finger. The opposition captain was as surprised as Kumar and invited him to bat again. Kumar tactfully passed on the kind offer.
Andy, AKA “The White Viv”, plundered the bowling but the running between the wickets took its toll. When his team-mates refused his repeated requests for a drink and demanded he wait until the end of the over his survival instincts cut in and he deliberately got himself out LBW rather than die of dehydration.
He had troubled the scorer for a total of 26 classy runs, the current highest score of the tour and one that Ladbrokes are quoting long odds on being beaten in the final game.
Neil was bowled after a useful 11 and Eric, reckless by name if not nature, turned back the clock to record a tidy six. John Quinn ran a suicidal single to clock up nine. To make matters worse the fielder who threw down the only stump he had to aim at was the same fielder who John had dropped earlier in the day!
Gary Burrell showed more than even his normal courage by batting with a suspected broken finger. Despite wincing at every shot Gary managed to hang around for a decent amount of time score an impressive 15 runs.
The same could not be said for the rest of the batting with Pete managing one to save his “pair” in successive games and Steve hitting a stylish four before going for five.
Gary Jones managed four, a good effort considering his twin distractions of keeping wicket all morning in the blistering heat and the expected arrival the following day of his partner Ling!
And then there was Phil.
The star of the show earlier, he had informed us on the bus to the ground that we were playing at the stadium where the Aussie star Mark Waugh had got a “pair” and therefore became the only recognised batsman to get two pairs in successive games. Talk about tempting fate!
Phil had failed to trouble the scorers during the first game with his batting efforts. He faced the pick of the opposition bowlers (whose final figures were 3.5 overs for 11 runs and three wickets) and received a ball that (he says) pitched, lifted and turned before removing his stumps from the ground.
Walking off Phil said he intended to phone Mr Waugh to say they had something in common but was advised the volatile Australian may not wish to be reminded of his ability not to score runs.
The final LSSC score of 114 was a creditable effort given their previous score, the nature of the opposition, the long session in the field and the inspired fielding of the players lent to the opposition – certainly in Reg’s case unequalled in the memories of his regular team-mates.
And most of our innings was played in front of a crowd that had swelled to a point where it became economically viable for a street hawker to appear and sell cut pineapple to the watching masses.
The game was played in a great spirit and we all thought the day really could not get much better. Then came the post match drinks.
This can be a bit of a sterile, perfunctory affair where platitudes are said and you get the feeling the home team can’t wait to escape to their homes and families.
Not this bunch of Sri Lankans, not this night.
Was it the bottle of Arrack that proved uncommonly popular with the opposition, was it the Scouse full-perm wig that appeared from nowhere and allowed Phil to do a genuinely funny impersonation of one of the most agreeable members of the opposition who had the misfortune who be a Doppelganger for Colonel Gadaffi.
Or was it Gilly, showing her good Scottish upbringing by turning down the offers of coke to dilute the drink and downing the large glass or Arrack in one, or was it the “SeeyouJimmy wig” that circulated?
Or was it the full-blooded singing of Sri Lankan and British songs accompanied by the beat of a local drum that again appeared out of the blue.
We will never know but it was an evening that will be long remembered by all those present.
Mick Stanley finished the evening off in style with a good few very well chosen words thanking our hosts and then leading us all in a second rendition of “Oh When The Saints” in a manner that only he can.
Now, does life get much better…
LONDON SAINTS ROBBED BY 192 RUNS
Some 23 of the tour party retreated to Kandy at 7am this morning (1am UK time) to lick their wounds and discuss tactics after an agonising defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka's rotarians by the narrow margin of 192 runs in a 35-over match.
Steve, Andy and John went golfing, Johnny Quinn is doing something with his laptop and Neil Hotston stayed by the pool, working on his sunburn (to the concern of the pool lifeguards, who have already had to rub special fluids into his red raw legs. Photo of lifeguard kneeling in front of Neil held by Dave Thomas).
Match report from Andy Jones goes like this (and log on to www.timesonline.co.uk/travellogs) for more tsunami-related news from the tour
SRI LANKA ROTARIANS V LONDON SAINTS at Wesley College, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday January 22, 2006.
Weather: Hot (31 deg C) and dry.
SRI LANKA ROTARIANS 279-5 (35 overs)
(Lakshman 39 ret, Shahaaj 36 ret, Devaraj 36 ret, Sanjeewa 35 ret, Lidul 34, Leslie 31, Wathan 1-12, Kumar 1-22, Rogers 1-42, Keenan 1-43)
LONDON SAINTS 87 (27.2 overs)
(Griffiths 18 n o, Kumar 16, Ramdial 15)
Rotarians won by 192 runs.
AFTER 18 months of planning, the moment had finally arrived as skipper Dave Thomas set off for the first delivery of the first game of the London Saints Cricket Club’s 25th anniversary tour of Sri Lanka. Pre-match nerves had been focused into whoops of encouragement from his team-mates as DT launched his first ball.
Fast, on a full length, just outside off stump – a perfect tester for any opening batsmen.
Behind the stumps, Gary Speedtwin, Andy Jones and Eric Shadick waited for the outside edge that would give the team a glorious start. But instead of the anticipated defensive shot or nervous swish, opening bat Sanjeewa effortlessly caressed the ball through the covers (well, through Phil Rogers actually) for a four. You could almost hear the collective gasp from the team.
When the second and fourth balls were treated with similar disdain we were beginning to wonder what we had let ourselves in for. It was going to be a long day in the 30-plus degree heat. What we did not realise at the time was that Sanjeewa was a former opening bat for the Sri Lankan Test team. Thank goodness tour organisers Kumar and DT had the presence of mind to limit the number of runs per batsman to 35.
In Sanjeewa’s case it was effectively a forfeit and he was soon back in the pavilion having scored 32 of his runs in boundaries as London Saints struggled to chase his shots in the heat. Sadly for the tourists he was not the only opponent who was several classes above us and soon three other batsmen had raced unbeaten to their allotted 35, and a fourth was out for 34, deceived by a Paul Wathan yorker.
Despite the rapid rate of scoring there were some notable individual efforts.
DT bowled well by our normal standards and his 0-36 off his three overs was a sober reminder of the difference between the sides.
His opening bowling partner Phil Rogers, possibly the fittest London Saint, who incredibly bowled five overs of accurate swing in succession – starting with a maiden and then a wicket maiden – with no runs conceded from his first 16 balls. The run rate was steady around eight runs an over, although it was slowed briefly when John “Wheelie Bin” Griffiths and Steve “Lord Lucan” Keenan bowled in tandem – with Steve claiming his first wicket in Asia when Joe “Rammas” Ramdial brilliantly caught a skier. Kumar also temporarily stemmed the flow with a tidy spell of 4 overs picking up 1 wicket for 22 in the process.
Both Wath and Lord Lucan were dreadfully unlucky not to grab a second wicket each. Everyone went up for an audible edge that Gary Speedtwin seemed to have snaffled behind the stumps, but Umpire Dave “Smudger” turned down the appeal and the batsman stood his ground. The same umpire, clearly determined not to show any favouritism to the Saints, also declined a nifty Speedtwin stumping off his Lordship’s off cutters. This time the batsman was prepared to walk, only for Smudger to shake his bearded head and cry “not out.” The innings eventually closed with the Sri Lanka Rotarians reaching a formidable 279 for 5.
London Saints openers got the reply off to a slow, but steady start. A useful contribution from the ever dependable Kumar (16) took the tourists to 43 for 2 before the dreaded condition that is the LSSC batting collapse showed that it is not confined to the pitches of North London and South Somerset. Wickets fell with monotonous regularity. The Rotarians’ bowling was tight, if not the bamboozling spin that we had feared and most of the departing batsmen were victims of poor shot selection as much as googlies and dousras.
Pete Berkley, beginning his tour stumped for 0, returned to the pavilion exclaiming that his “bat was on the line”, only to be told that on the line is out. Neil “Barry” Hotson played a typically explosive 3-ball innings dot ball/expansive shot for 4/bowled. Phil Rogers, meanwhile, having also failed to trouble the scorers, proceeded to have an almighty sulk on the boundary, but soon got over it.
For the statisticians, a particularly pleasing moment came when Eric Shaddick (all-time squad number 1) and Paul Wathan (no.3) shared (albeit briefly) a partnership, just as they had some 25 years ago when the LSCC first took to the cricket pitches of north London. The inevitable defeat was briefly stemmed by a last wicket partnership of 20 between the skipper and Wheelie Bin, including a notable first, an all-run “Fat Boy” 3 in the dry Sri Lankan heat which had their team mates astounded.
Man of the Match – John “Wheelie-Bin” Griffiths for a tidy, though wicketless, spell and a swashbuckling 18 not out.
Champagne Moment – the opening two balls of the tour; one that has been 18 months in the planning, at a cost of £30,000 plus and several thousand more in fundraising (much thanks to his own stupendous efforts), DT’s steaming (literally) in with the new ball carried such great expectations. Both it and the second delivery were good balls that would certainly have troubled any of our usual opponents. But it’s not everyday that you get to bowl to a former Sri Lanka Test Player . . .
LONDON SAINTS GO ON TOUR
Day Three of the biggest tour undertaken by LSSC in its history - the cricket club in Sri Lanka. A total of 23 middle-aged blokes, eight partners and a baby flew into Colombo on Thursday afternoon and to date (this is Sat morning), there have been no hospitalizations, arrests or disappearances (although skipper Dave Thomas inexplicably fell over in a Chinese restaurant last night and Eric Shadick was seen on The Hut dancefloor at 2.30am at our Mt Lavinia hotel).
Our new umpire Smudger (he of the white beard and fuller figure) has been mistaken by Sri Lankans for WG Grace and Karl Marx and Reggie twice threw a tantrum at crazy golf (he lost).
Tour shirts and caps were handed out at dinner on Thursday night, including new squad members Flop Flip (ok, ok, a printer's error), Where's John and Little John, Rammas and Sicknote. The two Rotarian guests who are arranging our matches did not look unduly worried.
But spare a thought today for Eric Shadick, The Taxman, whose squad number if 1 in recognition of being the founding member of LSSC (the newest member, Ian (Sicknote), is number 150. Today will be the first league game Eric has missed since 1979. And next week will be the first Cup match he has missed since 1976.
In preparation for the first of our three games tomorrow, eight have gone white water rafting this morning, so team selection could be revised later. More are playing beach cricket and Neil Hotston is improving his sunburn. Five more will head south with Kumar today on tsunami-related stuff (for more read www.timesonline.co.uk/travellogs)
And for match reports and more tour news, log back onto London Saints on Monday for news of a thrilling victory. But we hope to make a match of it.
LONDON SAINTS NEWS
We are considering booking places in the Corporate hospitality suite for our match at the Britannia Stadium v Stoke on 15th April. The cost will be £110 + VAT. Interested? let Nick Head know. E-mail: nickjh1480@hotmail.com
Saints have been drawn at Leicester in the 4th round of the FACup. Train times are:
St. Pancras depart: 1025
Leicester arrive: 1231
Leicester depart: 1732
St. Pancras arrive: 1946
