St Mary's Stadium - Southampton Stadium
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Last Update:
June 26, 2025
While it does require a rather long journey for most fans, particularly those located in the North of the country, an away day at Southampton’s St Mary’s Stadium is usually worth the effort.
Located on England’s South coast, the seaside provides an excellent backdrop on matchday, and the city itself has plenty to offer in the way of entertainment.
So, as far as away days go, you can’t go wrong with a trip to St Mary’s.
St Mary’s Stadium away end was previously in the Northam Stand but as of 2024/25, it is in the Chapel/Kingsland corner.
The away end was moved as the club decided that they wanted the Northam Stand to be home-fan-only as it is traditionally the loudest part of the stadium.
The new away end has a capacity of 3,000 fans and part of the stand has safe-standing rails installed. These areas were introduced during the summer of 2024.
What to expect during your visit to St. Mary’s Stadium
While scarcely regarded as the most lively stadium in the Premier League, Southampton’s St. Mary’s Stadium is still widely regarded as having a very energetic atmosphere in most games and allows for an excellent matchday experience to be created as a result.
In terms of refreshments, Food and drinks are served to away fans inside the away end for two hours before kick-off and also at half-time.
Away entrance
The entrance to the away end at St Mary’s is via turnstiles D, E, F.
Away fan best view
The view from the new away end is good with no obstructing pillars while the concourse is as spacious as you would expect from a relatively new stadium.
Southampton set to host charity match
On Thursday, 5 June, an array of celebrities will be flocking to the St Mary’s pitch as the Saints prepare to host a charity match to raise funds for Alzheimer’s Research UK.
Among the star-studded lineup are television personalities Joe Swash and Jake Wood, while former Southampton fan favourite James Beattie will also be taking part.
Kick-off is set for 7:30pm, with the stadium opening its doors to fans an hour-and-a-half before at 6pm.
Despite a difficult season in the Premier League for the Saints, this kind of event is a reminder of just how important football clubs are and the impact they can have on society.
Relegation casts doubt over stadium expansion
After accruing a sorry return of 12 points during the 2024/25 Premier League campaign, it has long been known that Southampton were to be relegated to the Championship upon the season’s end.
The damning blow has perhaps been somewhat lessened with news of Will Still’s appointment surfacing recently, however, this relegation will undoubtedly have huge impacts on the club.
One such impact is the potential implications it may have for the reported St Mary’s stadium expansion.
The club have previously stated that one of the driving factors in the project was the Saints’ desire to maintain to thrive in the Premier League. However, after their relegation, questions have been raised regarding the club’s ability to finance the project without Premier League income.
While any impact is likely to be merely temporary, it is a potentially significant setback nonetheless.
That being said, were those concerns are proven to be inaccurate and Southampton are indeed able to push forward with the project, the extra income could potentially be crucial in the Saints securing a hasty return to the Premier League.
Stadium expansion
The latest piece of news regarding St Mary’s Stadium, and an exciting one at that, is the confirmation of a joint enterprise between Southampton and the City Council to expand the club’s stadium.
Whether this expansion would result in a significant capacity increase at St. Mary’s remains unclear at this stage, however, it has been announced that a range of business and residential developments would be taking place across the waterfront.
Irrespective of any potential capacity increases, Southampton would receive additional income from these developments, with the club and the city both keen on transforming St.Mary’s waterfront into a “vibrant centre for sports and entertainment”.
Speaking on the news, Southampton FC chief executive Phil Parsons said: “For the club to thrive and survive in the Premier League, we must increase our revenue streams, and developing the St Mary’s Waterfront area is central to achieving that.”
The Saints have struggled in this year’s Premier League campaign, but this is certainly a development the club’s supporters can get excited about.
The Dell pub
Another recent development at St Mary’s Stadium has been the opening of a brand-new home-fans-only drinking establishment named The Dell – in honour of the club’s former home, The Dell Stadium.
Spaces can be booked online, with the pub open from 9am to 11pm, Monday through Saturday, and 10am to 9pm on Sundays, although this will vary on matchdays.
Following the announcement of its opening, a club statement explained that “The pub will proudly feature products from local suppliers, including freshly roasted coffee, craft beers, and premium produce.”
As well as food and drink, The Dell will also feature 10m large TV screens, a shuffleboard table and darts boards.
Southampton aren’t exactly the biggest football club in England but given the location of the club and the welcoming nature of the stadium, celebrities are frequently seen enjoying a day out here.
Rishi Sunak
Former Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, is one of the most famous Southampton supporters and has been spotted at St Mary’s on several occasions. Cynics suggested that the former PM tried to use the club to make himself appear more ‘normal’ in the build-up to the 2024 General Election due to his upper-class background.
Iwan Thomas
Former British athlete, Iwan Thomas, is another famous Saints fan. Despite being a Welshman, Thomas has supported Southampton his entire life and has frequently visited St Mary’s Stadium.
The song most commonly associated with Southampton is ‘When the Saints Go Marching In’. This is typically sung at the beginning of matches and will also get an airing towards the end if the crowd is trying to will the team to either score a late winner or hang on to a result.
Some other popular Southampton chants include:
- Hello, we are the Southampton boys
- Bye Bye, Pompey
- Southampton til I die
Below is a video of some Southampton fan songs.
Given that it was opened fairly recently by football stadium standards, you may not be surprised to learn that the vast majority of seats inside the St Mary’s Stadium offer fantastic views of the pitch.
However, as is usually the case, for the best views possible, you will want to secure a seat at the front of the upper tier – this will give you a view of the action akin to watching on the television at home.
As an extra piece of advice when visiting the ground, if you want to improve that experience even further, aim to sit in either the East or West Stands – the West Stand in particular is lauded for providing slightly more legroom than other sections of the stadium.
However, if you consider yourself a ‘purist’ and are only concerned about the atmosphere, then the Northam Stand, located behind the Northern goal, is the place for you.
Entrances
All entrances to St Mary’s Stadium are clearly marked on the map below. However, please note, that the away section has now moved to the corner between the Chapel Stand and the Kingsland Stand.
Away fans should use turnstiles D, E and F
There is disabled seating on three out of the four sides of the stadium.
Seating plan
Located slightly adrift from the city centre, Southampton’s St Mary’s Stadium does not boast a long line of pubs in the immediate surrounding area, particularly for away fans.
As a result, most travelling supporters congregate in the city centre, where the number of bars increases almost exponentially, and travel to the ground closer to kick-off.
Our top suggestions for pubs for away fans are as follows:
- Yates Southampton, 113-117 Above Bar St, Southampton SO14 7FH
- Bottle & Stoat, 45 Bedford Pl, Southampton SO15 2DG
- Beards & Boards Craft Beer Bar, 33 Bedford Pl, Southampton SO15 2DG
Home fans
Naturally, home fans have far more choice in this regard, and our top suggestions are as follows:
- Kingsland Tavern, 76 St Mary St, Southampton SO14 1NY
- The Saints Pub, Kendal Avenue, Millbrook, Southampton SO16 9LP
The food at Southampton’s St Mary’s Stadium is far from revolutionary, however, you can still expect to find all the traditional dishes that have become synonymous with football in England over the years.
That includes burgers, hotdogs, chips, sausage rolls pies and more.
Take a look at the images below for a taste of what you can expect upon your visit to the ground.
Hot dog at Southampton (@SouthamptonFC)
💷 £5 pic.twitter.com/yXD4uOr8wU
— Footy Scran (@FootyScran) March 16, 2023
Sausage roll at Southampton (@SouthamptonFC)
💷 £4.95 pic.twitter.com/DhEck9d70m
— Footy Scran (@FootyScran) December 26, 2022
By train
The stadium is located around one and a half miles away from Southampton Central Railway Station (where there is also quite a large car park), which should take about 30 minutes to walk. There is also a shuttle bus in operation, taking fans from the station to the ground. This operates from the Blechynden Terrace bus stop outside the station. It starts two and a half hours before kick off and costs Adults £3 return and Under 15’s £2 return.
Turn left from the station’s southern entrance and walk up Western Esplanade, which becomes Civic Centre Road. Remain on the Civic Centre Road and walk between the Civic Centre and the Marlands Shopping Centre.
Eventually, a crossroads is reached with the Nationwide Building Society on one corner and Lloyds Bank on another. Cross into New Road and follow this road across a park and past a college.
At this point, you will reach a complex road junction with a number of traffic lights. Cross Kings Way into Northam Road and follow this road for a quarter of a mile until you reach the ground on your right. There are signs provided by the local council, which direct fans from the station to the ground.
By Car
From the M3 take the A33 into Southampton. Continue on the A33 until you reach the junction with the A3024 Northam Road and turn left onto this road towards Northam. Then turn right onto the B3038, Britannia Road for the stadium.
Where is the best place to park for the Southampton game?
There is hardly any parking available at the stadium for away fans and there are parking restrictions in force for the local area. Most fans head for the city centre car parks and then embark on the 15-20 minute walk to the stadium.
If taking this option, we recommend the NCP car park in Portland Terrace, which costs around £8. It is, however, worth noting that after the game the roads around the city centre become extremely busy and this will delay your journey home quite substantially.
Alternatively, you can park in the Marina area and then take the ten-minute walk to the ground. Parking in this area has the advantage that at the end of the game, you can avoid the city centre gridlock, by heading along the coast on the A3024 and then onto the M271/M27.
The St Mary’s Stadium was first opened as recently as 2001, so it should be no surprise to learn that the ground has maintained the same capacity throughout its lifespan – that being 32,384.
However, it is worth noting that due to the club segregating home and away fans in the North Stand, which is done by leaving empty rows of seats, the venue is unlikely to ever maximise that capacity on matchday.
However, the Saints thought progressively in that regard and designed St Mary’s in such a way that three of its four stands can all be expanded in the future. If that were to happen, the site would be transformed into a 50,000-seat ground.
Rumours of a Stadium expansion have surfaced in recent years; however, whether the Saints would make the immediate jump to 50,000 or would first settle for a figure slightly below that remains to be seen.
All in all, the current capacity is enough for a team that’s often moving up and down the leagues, and the latest relegation from the Premier League might just put the expansion plans on hold for a while.
Tours of the Southampton stadium are offered by the club on non-matchday weekends and during school holidays. Prices are pretty reasonable, too:
- Adults – £20
- Children – £15
- Over 65s – £15
They are an excellent way for any supporter who wants to explore St Mary’s Stadium on a deeper level. All attendees will be granted access to behind-the-scenes facilities such as the changing rooms, players’ tunnel and pitch side area.
In addition to the standard tour, you can also book The Legends Tour, which includes being accompanied by a former Southampton FC player, as well as a A meal in The Dell pub.
You can find further details on the tours via the official club website.
Being a coastal city, Southampton makes for an excellent day trip and offers plenty of fun activities and attractions to entertain fans who plan on making a day, or perhaps a weekend, of their trip to the town.
Some of the best attractions in the area are as follows:
The Seafront
Of course, the number one attraction of any seaside area in England is the seafront. Unfortunately, whereas many such towns still boast a pier, Southampton’s, which opened in 1833, closed in 1979 and remains in a derelict condition to this day.
However, there remain a host of restaurants, arcades and other fun activities along the seafront.
And, of course, if you visit in the summer months, or are brave enough to do so in the winter, the beach and sea itself is another fantastic way to kill a few hours.
West Quay Shopping Centre
Another of Southampton’s fantastic attractions is the local shopping centre, known as West Quay.
Open seven days a week, the shopping centre boasts a huge variety of shops, from high street retailers to exclusive designer brands – there is something for everyone.
West Quay also contains plenty of restaurants if all that shopping works up an appetite.
Solent Sky Museum
Finally, there is also a huge range of museums for you to visit in Southampton, however, our number one suggestion would be the Solent Sky Museum.
Southampton was once home to the Royal Air Force and has always been of huge importance to the military in Britain for that reason.
A visit to the Solent Sky Museum will afford you the opportunity to explore some of this history and take a look at some of the most famous aircraft to have ever flown in and out of the city on a regular basis.
Given that St Mary’s Stadium only opened in 2001 – fairly recently by football stadium standards – all things retro is not exactly the area in which the ground shines.
Where it all began…
#OnThisDay 15 years ago, St Mary’s opened its doors for the first time as #SaintsFC hosted @RCDEspanyol! #SMS15 pic.twitter.com/wBZXIaTesE
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) August 11, 2016
However, that doesn’t mean it has nothing to offer in this regard at all. The images above were released by Southampton via X, formerly Twitter, in 2016 to celebrate the stadium’s 15th birthday.
On that special day in 2001, St Mary’s opened its turnstiles for the first time, welcoming RCD Espanyol to the South of England.
Southampton’s St Mary’s Stadium is a venue with plenty of pedigree when it comes to hosting music concerts and has done so many times over the years.
The first of which came in 2005, when the iconic Elton John performed live at the stadium for thousands of fans.
A list of some of the most impressive concerts to have been hosted at the stadium is as follows:
- Elton John – 2005
- Bon Jovi – 2006 & 2008
- Craig David – 2007
- Robbie Williams – 2017
- The Rolling Stones – 2018
- Take That – 2019
The Dell, Southampton pic.twitter.com/uc5wDGi3O7
— Old Days Football (@OldDaysFootball) February 20, 2021
Southampton first played at the 12,000-capacity Antelope ground from 1887 to 1896. From there they moved to the County Cricket ground for two years. Then it was the Dell, which was the Saints’ home for over 100 years.
There was a fire in the West Stand due to an explosion during World War Two, which meant an entire rebuild was required; this took place shortly after the fires had happened. Various expansions were carried out at the Dell but, despite these works, the Southampton stadium was the smallest in the English top flight. In the end, the club opted for a move.
In 2001, Southampton waved goodbye to their long-term home and moved into St Mary’s stadium. The 32,000-seater stadium became the biggest in South England (outside of London).
The Saints have remained there ever since and have enjoyed plenty of good times, as well as bad times, in the years that have followed. It is worth mentioning that there have been minor talks of a stadium expansion, although thankfully, relocation appears to be off the cards.
Stadium expansion
As mentioned above, Southampton and the City Council have recently come to an agreement regarding an expansion of the St Mary’s Stadium area.
Whether or not a capacity increase will be taking place remains to be seen, however, the main purpose of the expansion is to improve the waterfront area immediately outside the ground, with Southampton generating extra income as a result.
While these plans are still in their infancy, an agreement between the two parties represents one big hurdle that has already been overcome.
The work is expected to take place over multipole years, and will see the development of various housing and business projects over that time. However, after the Saints’ recent relegation from the Premier League in 2024/25, the Saints’ finances will likely be affected, and progress may be stunted as a result.
Record attendance
32,363 vs Coventry City
Championship League, 28 April 2012.
Average attendance
- 2024-2025: 30,865 (Premier League)
- 2023-2024: 29,371 (Championship)
- 2022-2023: 30,416 (Premier League)
- 2021-2022: 29,884 (Premier League)
- 2020-2021: N/A (Covid-19)
- 2019-2020: 29,675 (Premier League)
- 2018-2019: 30,139 (Premier League)
- 2017-2018: 30,794 (Premier League)
Southampton vs Portsmouth rivalry: Not only are these two sides the most successful teams on England’s south coast but they’re also only separated by 19 miles, giving their meetings, which are known as the South Coast derby, extra heat.
While rivalry perhaps does not receive the same level of attention as some other major derbies in the country, especially compared to the likes of the North London Derby, for example, it is arguably just as fierce. There is a real hatred between the two fan bases, and police presence is abundant on match day.
With Southampton now relegated back to the Championship, we will be treated to this spectacular fixture twice more in 2025/26.
Southampton vs Bournemouth rivalry: The “New Forest derby” wasn’t really a rivalry until recently. Meetings between these teams used to be friendly but they’ve turned fiery in recent years with matches having taken on greater meaning as Bournemouth made it to the Premier League.
The combination of St Mary’s being a ground that has spent many years as a Premier League football venue and being built less than 30 years ago means that the disabled facilities at the ground are good.
Some of these facilities include:
- Dedicated accessible parking spaces
- Sensory room
- Audio description service
- Audio programmes
If you do have specific matchday needs, we recommend contacting the club in advance to ensure you have the best experience possible.
As with most clubs nowadays, the ticket pricing at Southampton’s stadium, St Mary’s, is tiered depending on the ‘grade’ of the game you’re watching and the area of the stadium you sit in.
Category A games are the most premium fixtures with Category D at the other end; the price range for these games is detailed here:
Adult – £25-£60
Over 65 – £25-£50
18-25 – £25-£55
U18 – £20-£55
U14 – £20-£55
The expensive £50 tickets are for the premium seats, ticket prices range between £35 and £20 for the normal seats for the age groups.
Meanwhile, if you’re interested in season tickets, these are the prices and they vary based on the seating areas in question:
Adult – £475-£855
Over 65 – £430-£855
18-25 – £335-£855
U18 – £265-£855
U14 – £95-£855
- Official Programme: £4
Ground Layout
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Images
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Images
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Southampton v Fulham
Premier League
Saturday October 26th 2013, 3pm
By Christopher Watson (Doing the 92)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
Based in Bridlington, it is very hard to visit teams far away down south but a weekend trip to Salisbury meant potential for a few games. Southampton being very close so another to be ticked off and on my Birthday too!
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Traffic was terrible getting out of Salisbury but having lived there for 10 years before moving back to my birthplace we knew a shortcut to get to The Saints, we parked nearby ground was easy to find
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
We had eaten at a pub near Salisbury to celebrate my birthday so no food needed at ground
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
Very impressive large and modern with an unusual style different from other new stadiums I had visited
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Atmosphere was top notch we were located at the last row in the noisiest stand full of die hard saints supporters good banter and singing plus we stood all game no problems with stewards with Saints winning great game to watch
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
A bit crowded getting away but soon on our way back to Salisbury
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Great day visiting my old place birthday meal and watching Saints win another ticked off another ground – 26 now.
Southampton v Newcastle United
Premier League
Saturday 7th March 2020, 3pm
Ryan Dodds (Newcastle United)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the St Mary's Stadium?
My dad had been in my ear for a few seasons saying he fancied the trip to Southampton as we'd never been, so eventually, I relented this year and made the arrangements. We attended Bournemouth away last season which was a great trip so hopefully, this could be as good a trip to the south coast as our last one was.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
To avoid the drama presented last time by South Western Railway we decided to drive, booking into the Jury's Inn (which has no car parking on-site). We found the closest car park to the hotel at Compton Walk. The drive down South took five and a half hours including stops, which was ideal. The car park charged £10 for the day. We were then a five-minute walk away from the city centre pubs and 20 minutes walk from St. Mary's. It all seemed too good to be true!
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We made it to the Scholar's Arms by midday for a few pre-match beers and to watch the televised the early kick off. The pub welcomed home and away fans each wearing colours and everyone seemed to be getting on fine in a friendly enough atmosphere. There were plenty of fans in the bar, but not so many that you couldn't get served quickly enough.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the St Mary's Stadium?
The 20 minute walk to the ground through the bottleneck tunnel seems quite unusual, given that both home and away supporters are all squashed in together, fortunately, I saw no trouble but I can't imagine this is always the case(?). St Mary's is a typical modern flat-pack ground with adequate facilities but little to separate it from others that are similar: Bolton, Wigan, Leicester etc. The view from the away end was great and with the perspex sheets are the back of the stand away fans are able to generate a good noise.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was brought to life fairly early on with VAR awarding Djenepo a deserved red card after 28 minutes that referee Graham Scott had missed. This got the away section singing up to the point VAR intervened again to award Newcastle a seemingly unlikely penalty that Scott (and the rest of us in fairness) had failed to see. Pompey native and old boy Matt Ritchie stepped up to miss which was the fourth or fifth great save from their keeper which really woke the home fans up. The game continued with Newcastle dominating possession but not offering too much in the Southampton penalty area, full credit to their defence and goalkeeper who looked to be right on their game.
At half time I nipped down for a pint which took long enough to get, queuing systems obviously not the priority for the organisers! After coming back up for the second half it seemed as if it would be a solid home performance and typical misfiring Newcastle failing to take advantage of the extra man. Finally with 10 minutes to go Newcastle broke the deadlock with a lapse in concentration from Yan Valery allowing Saint-Maximin to nick the ball and roll it past McCarthy. Both sets of fans had been in great voice up to this stage, now the away section very much the louder of the two!
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Back through the bottleneck, we walked 20 minutes or so back into town for some post-match beers and the late kick off in a bar named The Grapes – decent beer at reasonable prices. We had a nice meal in Szechuan Kitchen before heading to a few other pubs around the High Street area to celebrate the win.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Another great trip to the south coast capped off by a first win at St. Mary's in 15 years. Beforehand I'd heard a few people say that Southampton as a city wasn't exactly wonderful but I found it a great trip, good pubs, nice people and nice enough city. I would definitely go again!
Southampton v Burnley
Premier League
Saturday 15th February 2020, 12:30pm
Steve Andrews (Doing the 92)
Southampton v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Premier League
Saturday 18th January 2020, 3pm
Thomas Inglis (Neutral Visiting Dundee United Fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting St Mary's Stadium?
Another of the further away grounds for me to tick off (an 1100 mile round trip). I had previously been to 'The Dell' around 20 years ago, and this would be No.91 of my personal count of English league grounds.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
For me the usual overnight bus from Dundee to London, then another coach from Victoria to Southampton. Once in the town centre, it is only around a 15 minute walk to the stadium following the crowd, so fairly easy.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I arrived in Southampton around 10am and must say I was impressed walking around the city walls and with the naval history connected to the place. I also had a look in the shopping malls and market before grabbing my football coupon to study in the pub. 'The Scholar's Arms'. then O'Neils, I then had to go and sink a pint in 'The Titanic' before heading to the ground. I had some banter with fans of both teams, all friendly enough.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the St Mary's Stadium?
I was fairly impressed with St Mary's inside and out. I had a seat in the Itchen Stand, which gave a good view of the action.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
A very good game for the neutral. Southampton started by taking the lead after about 15 minutes with a hook shot inside the box from Bednarek. On 35 minutes Long headed in to give Saints a 2 nil lead going into half time. The second half the game completely changed as Wolves grabbed the upper hand. 10 minutes in Neto swivelled in the box to fire home. Jiminez grabbed a brace, the first being a penalty on 65mins and the winner smashed home with about 15mins to go. No issues with stewards or facilities (clean and plenty). The atmosphere was very good from both sets of fans, though obviously there was a lot more singing from the Wolves end in the latter stages. The attendance was 31,152.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
No issues following the crowds back into the town centre, where I headed to 'Standing Order's and 'Yate's' to watch the teatime game.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Southampton is a good city to have a wander around in for a bit of history and feel of the place. I then got to enjoy a 5 goal thriller, so a fine day.
Southampton v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Premier League
Saturday 18th January 2020, 3pm
Andrew Goddard (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Southampton v Huddersfield Town
FA Cup 3rd Round
Saturday 4th January 2020, 3pm
David Morris (Doing the 92)
Southampton v Leicester City
Premier League
Friday 25th October 2019, 8pm
Pete Woodhead (Doing the 92)
Southampton v Tottenham Hotspur
Premier League
Saturday 9th March 2019, 3pm
Scott Brannon (Tottenham Hotspur)
Southampton v Everton
Premier League
Saturday 19th January 2019, 3pm
Simon Rogers (Doing the 92)
Southampton v Watford
Premier League
Saturday 10th November 2018, 3pm
Norman Miller (Watford)
Southampton v Brighton & Hove Albion
Premier League
Monday 17th September 2018, 8pm
Geoff Burrow (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Southampton v Brighton & Hove Albion
Premier League
Monday 17th September 2018, 8pm
Viv Johnson (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Southampton v Swansea City
Premier League
Saturday 12th August 2017, 3pm
Andy Jack (Swansea City fan)
Southampton v West Ham United
Premier League
Saturday 4th February 2017, 3pm
David Burkett (West Ham United fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the St Mary's Stadium?
I had been looking forward to this for months. I knew we'd be taking a strong following and was meeting up with other Hammers ahead of the game. First visit to St Mary's having been twice to the old Dell ground.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Travelled down from London by train. As a journey it couldn't be easier. Plenty of trains from Waterloo to Southampton, fast and regular. It is about a 20 minute walk direct to the St Mary's Stadium and it's easy to navigate.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We took over the Yates Bar in Southampton city centre. It's the designated away pub. Absolutely heaving. They played a lot of music we could all sing along to although this got a bit annoying after a while but the atmosphere was electric. Fair play to the staff, they worked hard serving us all and it was a great environment and the place I would recommend all visiting fans to arrange to meet. The venue seemed well practiced at hosting away fans and we had a great time.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of St Mary's Stadium?
St Mary's Stadium seemed a bit bland to me. It lacked character. It's kind of isolated, but is easy to walk to. Inside it's very uniform, a bowl of four equal sides with nothing to jump out at you and make you think "wow".
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The away concourse was pretty tight, although they were serving quickly. Toilets were decent enough, among the better I've seen. Stewards were all amiable, the ones outside in particular were very friendly and enjoyed the banter which is always good. We stood all game so can't really comment on the leg room but it seemed comfortable enough. Great view of the pitch although I struggled to see the far end of the pitch. Saints went 1-0 up early on and the home fans started giving us stick. We equalised almost immediately and went on to win 3-1 …. we enjoyed singing "oh when the saints, go 3-1 down" etc. We were quite close to the home fans and they didn't seem very up for singing us a song. It wasn't a great game but a fantastic result.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Very easy to get away from St. Mary's. Almost immediately you're back on main roads with wide pavements and open spaces and the proximity to the city centre and train station means it never got too crowded. Compared to busy London locations it was a breeze to get away from the stadium after full time.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I enjoyed it thoroughly. Totally owned Yates before going to the stadium which made it feel like a home game. We had immense support and got right behind the team and getting a decent away win capped the day off. I will definitely return to St Mary's.
Southampton v Burnley
Premier League
Sunday 16th October 2016, 4pm
James Gregory (Burnley fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the St Mary's Stadium?
The St Mary's Stadium was a new ground for me and another to tick off the list. In all honestly I was not looking forward to this game. Knowing there was a 12 hour round trip ahead of me and that Southampton's recent unbeaten form, meant it was going to be a very tough day down south.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
As I took the Burnley supporters club coach, parking and finding the ground were easy.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
After being dropped off outside the St Mary's Stadium with 2 and a half hours till kick off, we decided to venture around the area looking for a pub. This at first was hard as there was no pubs in sight but after about a half a mile walk and asking someone we finally found a small decent bar. There was fairly priced drinks and sky sports on off so this passed the time with ease. This pub was predominantly home fans, we were welcomed very kindly and the Saints fans were up for a good chat whilst we were in there.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the St Mary's Stadium?
From outside, the St Mary's Stadium looks very modern and was much different from Turf Moor! Inside there was a very spacious concourse and clean facilities.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was a poor one from Burnley. Southampton looked a very strong team from the start and certainly proved that by managing to score three goals in the space of around 15 minutes. Sam Vokes pulled one back for Burnley from the penalty spot in around the 70th minute mark but it was obvious we were never going to be strong enough to rescue a point. The stewards were very helpful. The atmosphere was good and there was a lot of banter between the Southampton fans in the corner and us away fans.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away from the ground was a nightmare. After leaving the game at 6 o'clock we weren't out of Southampton for a further 45 minutes due to the traffic within the city. However after this getting back up north was a traffic free journey.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall the day was very mediocre. A 12 hour round trip for a poor performance from the clarets meant this trip was certainly the worst of the season so far for me.
Southampton v Watford
Premier League
Saturday 13th August 2016, 3pm
Ian Pryer (Watford fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the St Mary's Stadium?
First game of the season and all the hope that brings, and my first visit to Southampton and the St Mary's Stadium.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The M25 and M3 was horrendous but inevitable on a Saturday during the summer holidays. We used St Mary's Church (in St Mary's Street) who offer match day parking for £4 or £5 and also run an excellent cafe with tea and coffee for 50p, plus home made cakes, and bacon rolls and hot dogs for £1.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Having parked we went inside the church to the cafe mentioned above. Everyone inside was very friendly (as you'd expect!) and the refreshments on offer were affordable and excellent. An interesting foot note is that the vicar came and said hello and told us this church's choir back in the 1880's set up a football team which became Southampton FC and explains why they are known as The Saints.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the St Mary's Stadium?
St Mary's is a great stadium, excellent views and plenty of space in the concourse behind the stand.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Didn't have any refreshments inside the ground. Stewarding okay although they seemed to lack the guts to tackle those who had sat in seats not allocated to them preferring to take issue instead with those left standing in the aisles as close to their friends and family members as the situation would allows. The £10 handed to me in an envelope on entry to reduce my £30 ticket down £20 courtesy of the Southampton club sponsor, Virgin Media, was an added bonus. This is an initiative that is running throughout the 2016/17 season.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
The way we got to the turnstiles before hand was fenced off, so we had to walk a slightly different way, along Britannia Road and then turned right to rejoin the way we had come in. Patience is needed coming away from the city up the A33. If you are not in a hurry, go and get a beer and let it die down!
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Good day out, nice stadium, good atmosphere.
Southampton v Watford
Premier League
Wednesday 13th January 2016, 7.45pm
Stephen Barrow (Watford fan)
Why were you looking forward to visiting the St Mary's Stadium?
Night games under floodlights have their own special magic. Southampton is only 90 miles away from Watford, so this was a chance to take in another match following the Hornets.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Followed the advice of the footballgroundguide I took the Itchen bridge route into the city and parked at Ocean Village. Plenty of parking in the multi-storey and a couple of reasonable away friendly pubs adjacent. As an added bonus the area around Oxford Street, has a large number of eating venues.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Having researched eating opportunities in advance, we opted to head to nearby Oxford Street and ventured for a curry at Kutis Brasserie and mighty fine it was too. It opens at six, and was nearly full by 6.15, so I would recommend booking in advance on a footie evening. Home fans in the majority and a friendly bunch they were too.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the St Mary's Stadium?
A fifteen minute stroll to the ground in pouring rain. In my opinion, this is one of the best of the new grounds albeit like most of the others it is stuck surrounded by largely anonymous industrial units etc. The away end offers good views and there looked to be reasonable queues for food and beer.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Undoubtedly the worst performance of the season from the Hornets who were lucky to get nil. The Saints had modified their formation following a terrible ten match run and their three centre backs never gave Deeney and Ighalo a sniff. In contrast, Southampton's fluid movement through midfield created a host of chances and only heroic keeping from Gomes kept the score down to 2-0. Watford fans gave plenty of vocal support with a passion not matched on the pitch. The Saints fans were a bit subdued at the beginning, no doubt on the back of a poor run of form, but generally found their voice as they took control.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
A fifteen minute trudge back to the car and an easy exit from the car park, before gridlock….sat nav displaying 30 minute delays in most directions bar the long way through the docks out west and away from our intended direction of travel. About a ten mike detour before hitting the M3 and home.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Bar the performance a fine night out, the highlight being the curry! St Mary's Stadium is a good ground to visit, fans are friendly but beware the gridlock on getting away now everyone knows about the parking at Ocean Village!
Southampton v AFC Bournemouth
Premier League
Sunday 1st November 2015, 4pm
Brian Lawes (AFC Bournemouth fan)
Why were you looking forward to visiting the St Mary's Stadium?
My only previous visit to St. Mary's was to see England play Macedonia back in 2002 when I remember being really impressed with the stadium.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Southampton was busy on this Sunday afternoon, but we still arrived in good time and parked in the multi-storey car park at Ocean Village – about a 15 minute walk from the ground. It cost £4, but usefully allowed you to pay at the end of your stay, so no worrying about getting back in time.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We walked straight to the stadium to meet up with friends and took up our seats immediately to take in the atmosphere and have a chat.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the St Mary's Stadium?
It was good to be able to revisit the ground to see the Cherries, especially in a Premiership match – still such a new experience to us Bournemouth fans. The ground is located in a rather unsightly industrial area but stands out as a bright, modern structure which underlines how far Southampton have progressed since the days of the old Dell. It is what I call a proper stadium, being fully enclosed, and, because it is a sensible size, this helps generate a really good atmosphere. We were behind the goal in the Northam Stand with chanting home supporters on both sides of us so there was lots of noise, and mainly good humoured chanting. The Saints lot would occasionally chant that they didn't care about us, but we know they do really!
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
If ever there was a match that proved that "a game of two halves" is not just a cliché, then this was it. Southampton dominated the first half and took a two goal lead, despite some desperate defending from the Cherries who were, unusually, playing a five man midfield. Eddie Howe made changes at half time which gave us a more attacking 4-4-2 formation and much more pace, with the introduction of King and Stanislas. It seemed that Southampton did not get out of their half for the second 45 minutes, but the Cherries are lacking any cutting edge right now and failed to turn their domination into goals. It ended 2-0 to Saints.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We had to pass the Chapel Arms, near the Itchen Bridge, on the way back to the car park and there were a few beered up Saints fans, who'd probably been watching the game in the pub, outside trying to goad any away supporters. We just crossed the busy road before we got to the pub to avoid any confrontation. In contrast we then had a pint in the Wetherspoons pub in Ocean Village; The Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis (what ever happened to pub names like The Dog and Duck?)) to let the traffic dissipate. It was full of Saints fans, we were wearing our colours, but they were very friendly, sympathetic to our current plight and happy to chat. A pleasant way to end the day.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Our first Sunday 4pm kick off and glad it was just up the road so no late night before work on Monday. Southampton have a great ground and good fans, if you avoid the few idiots, and it was a day we very much hope to repeat next season – and not just because that will mean we will still be a Premiership team.
Southampton v Aston Villa
Premier League
Saturday 16th May 2015, 12.45pm
Chad Wood (Aston Villa fan)
Why you were looking forward to going to the St Mary's Stadium?
I had never been to the ground previously and was another one to tick off the list. Decent capacity and heard good things about it.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Travelled by official club coach which was straight forward enough as we were dropped off outside the away end and picked back up at the same place.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We made the short walk to a pub called the Joshua Tree. Was quite small inside by didn't wait longer than five minutes for a drink. Was for both home and away fans so was nice to be able to mix with the opposition for a change.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
A tidy enough stadium. The view of the playing action and facilities were both good.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was entertaining if you were a Southampton fan, not so much as a Villa spectator with Villa being 5-1 down at half time. Game finished up 6-1 and despite the score, the atmosphere was brilliant in the away end. To their credit, Southampton fans were fairly vocal too. The stewards and police were all friendly and helpful, one of the best grounds which I've been to in this respect. Police officers were more than willing to chat with football fans, not something you see all the time. Steak Pie at half time was very nice but a little pricey at £3.50.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Was waiting around 30 minutes for the coaches to leave after the crowds had dispersed. Anticipate that the wait would usually be shorter however Southampton fans all waited for their players lap of honour and rightly so.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Excellent day out and would thoroughly recommend to others!
Southampton v Stoke City
Premier League
Sunday May 19th 2013, 4pm
By Philip Green (Stoke City fan)
I was looking forward to going to St. Mary's for quite a few reasons. Firstly, when I originally booked tickets, the match was still potentially a relegation decider for both clubs. In the end both teams were safe from the drop and instead this a meaningless end-of-season fixture. Still, I quite like the party atmosphere of end-of-season games. It's quite nice to go and watch your team play when the outcome doesn't really matter (give or take a couple of million quid in prize money related to where we finished in the table!). Thirdly, I wanted to say goodbye to a number of Stoke players. The big publicity before the game was for the retirement of Michael Owen, but I was really there to (potentially) bid farewell to Asmir Begovic as I am pretty certain he will have left for pastures new at the start of the season. Of course, it also happened to be Tony Pulis' last game in charge. Finally, it was a stadium I had never been to before and I liked the look of it.
I travelled from Hertfordshire via London and left Waterloo 3.5 hours before kick off. This gave me plenty of time, as I was on crutches due to a knee injury. The train was pretty full once we got to Southampton, despite it being 2 hours before kick off when we arrived. There was quite a heavy police presence at the station, which surprised me. I elected to take the shuttle bus up to the ground and this took a bit of finding. (Ignore the "way out" signs in the station if you are coming from London and head for the other platforms. Use the exit on that side. Note to self: write down the good advice contained on this website when next visiting an unfamiliar ground!) I was about the only one who paid £2 for a ticket up to the ground, as everyone else was a senior citizen. The bus journey took about 10 minutes, and it was clear that there were plenty of Stokies and Saints fans enjoying a beverage or two in the city centre pubs. Again, the police presence was notable. I was quite surprised that the bus dropped us a good way (5-10 minutes' walk) from the ground, but it was easy to find due to the crowds.
I love walking around the outside of a ground, and St Mary's in a very tidy shape despite being surrounded by industrial premises. One really nice touch was that a player (I couldn't tell who) was signing autographs just outside the ground. This was very popular with the Saints fans and there were dozens queuing up. It really gave me the impression that this was a club which cared about its fans.
I entered the ground an hour or so before kick off and was very impressed with the stewards. They could not have been more helpful in getting me in via a side gate (due to being on crutches) and seemed really concerned about me having to climb so high up. (Going up steps is not a problem; it just takes me a while to get back down them!) I had a coffee but didn't avail myself of a pie and a pint. Despite the crowds building up, the concourse was not full and the queues were almost non-existent due to having plenty of staff to hand.
I had chosen my seat carefully so that I could put my leg out straight into a gangway and was very impressed with the view. I was just on the start of the corner, which gave me a good perspective over all the pitch. The 2500 Stokies were in fine singing voice and easily drowned out the home support, who were frankly disappointing. The bowl-like nature of the stadium might be a bit identikit but reminds us Stokies of what we might have had (and what we might have one day!) if our corners were filled in. The screens were very clear, but the PA was almost inaudible, despite me being very close to a speaker.
The game itself was a bit of a let-down. With virtually nothing to play for, I can understand why. Stupidly, there were several flares let off by Stokies, one of which landed dangerously close to Begovic. The stewarding in the ground was so laid back that all standing (even in the aisles) was allowed. This was a bit of a pain as I had to keep sitting down and asking the Stokies in front of me to move so that I could see. I am a big fan of standing areas, (and usually stand all of a match) but not being able to stand gave me a better idea of how inconvenient it is to do so if the person behind you wants, or needs, to sit down.
When Stoke went ahead in the 47th minute, it was party-time up the away end with plenty of taunts about how bad the Saints must be if we were winning away. Sadly that didn't last long and a deserved equaliser came along 10 minutes later. Of course, the main event in the game was when Michael Owen came on. He was given a rousing reception by all four sides of the ground – a nice touch. It would have been even better had he connected with a cross and scored the winning goal! At the end of the game, the entire Stoke team and manager came to acknowledge the support of their fans and were given a good send-off. Did Begovic's second bow mean that we won't see him again in a Stoke shirt? It certainly looked that way.
Compared with the end of season games at the Britannia, it seemed like a bit of a damp squib at St Mary's. The players came back on to the pitch but were so far away from the fans that it seemed a bit pointless. The ground certainly emptied very quickly after this.
I made my way back to the shuttle bus and was on my way soon afterwards. Unfortunately, we had to pass through some serious trouble in the town centre. It looked as though it had been pre-orchestrated but even being on a bus passing through the very heavy police presence was quite frightening.
The station was pretty full, as was the first train back to London, but I was generously given a seat by a Saints fan. This sparked up a cracking conversation with him, and it was a nice antidote to the trouble I had seen earlier.
Overall, this was a great day out. I loved the stadium, the stewards were incredibly helpful and polite (although could have done more to keep the aisles free!) and the away fans very welcoming. It's just sad that quite a few fans' experiences of the day was marred by the trouble in the city centre afterwards.
Southampton v Coventry City
Championship League
Saturday 28th April 2012, 12.30pm
By Alex Smith (Coventry City fan)
1. Why was you looking forward to going to the ground (if not if the case may be):
In a way I was still on a bit of a downer really after we had been relegated the previous week. But at least I didn't have to experience those last day nerves! Also I felt a bit uneasy at the prospect of watching another team getting promoted
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We took the Cross Country Bournemouth bound train from Birmingham International direct to Southampton it took about 4 hours. We got off at Southampton Central and on exiting the stadium we found that there were free buses to take people from the station to the ferry terminals. As this also stopped at the West Quay Shopping Centre we decided to hop on. I thought these free buses were a great idea for any visitor to Southampton.
3. What did you do before the match pub/ chippy/ home fans friendly?
We walked down the road to a JD Wetherspoons and I ordered my Usual Eggs Benedict. We had had a conversation with some Southampton fans wishing us the best of luck in League One and hoping that we bounce back up. From there we caught a taxi upto the ground and on entering we watched the players warm up.
4. What were your thoughts on the away end other sides of the ground?
St Marys looked almost identical to other grounds such as the Britannia in Stoke, the King Power in Leicester and not too dissimilar from our own Ricoh Arena. I think this why I prefer older grounds as they have more character.
5. Comment on the game itself, Toilets, Atmosphere, Pies, Stewards, etc..
The game started off with Southampton starting off poorly, we had the first chance of the match Cody McDonald skimming the bar from a powerful header. It didn't take long for Southampton to Get there groove on Billy Sharp opening the scoring, Southampton continued to dominate 3 minutes late Jose Fonte headed in from a corner. The game went quiet for a bit then in the 56th minute Jos Hooiveld scored from close range, and in the 63rd minute Adam Llanna completed the rout for the Saints sending them to the premier league, winning 4-0.
As you would expect the atmosphere was rocking from both sets of fans, Southampton were singing 'We are going up!' while we were singing 'We're all going on a League One tour.' The stewards were rather anxious. The Coventry jokingly sung that if city scored, the Cov fans would invade the pitch, which led to large amounts of stewards taking place in front of us, blocking the view of some fans in the front rows. Some banners criticising our Board were also taken down by the stewards further which inflamed tempers further, but things did calm down after the final whistle.
After the match it was depressing watching all the Southampton fans on the pitch celebrating their promotion in front of us. But they applauded our fans for brilliant support and some invited us to join them but the stewards would have none of it (unsurprisingly).
6. Comment on the day itself:
On the whole a good day, although the stewards should really learn to try and chill out a bit.
Southampton v Notts County
League One
Saturday 15th January 2011, 3pm
By James Spring (Notts County fan)
Being a Notts County supporter living in sunny Weymouth means I only really get to see Notts play when we play in the South, so I had been looking forward to the trip to St Marys since the fixtures were released. I also have a mate who is a Saints fan, so the plan was to meet up before and after the game. We caught the train from Weymouth to Southampton Central. There was a bit of confusion on the way, as we had to catch a bus from Bournemouth to Southampton station due to engineering works, but we were told to stay on the train at Bournemouth. However a new conductor got on, and as we left Bournemouth he said the train was going directly to London Waterloo. Luckily, we were told we could get off at Totton and there would be a bus waiting to take us to Southampton Central station. we eventually arrived at Southampton central station at 13:20. Having arrived in Southampton reasonably early, we went into the City Centre to grab a bite to eat. We found a Burger King which was full of home fans. I did feel a bit awkward going in, with a bunch of Saints fans with my County scarf on but they seemed good natured and wished us good luck for the season.
Just before 2pm we made our way to the stadium. it was about a 20 minute walk to the ground, and we didn't have to worry about navigation thanks to our local Saints guide. My first glimpse of the stadium came as we walked through a tunnel that leads through to the ground, and what a sight it was. The stadium is stunning, and a lot bigger than what it looks on television. Away supporters are located in one corner of the Northam stand, with the noisier Saints fans in the other end of that stand. We were sat right at the back, so we had the best view. You get clear vision of the pitch, a good view of the big TV Screens which showed highlights of Saints last game (a 6-0 away win at Oldham!) and the managers interview. I personally am not a big fan of these new bowl style arenas but I'll make an exception for St Marys. The game itself looked destined to be a hard fought contest between the two form sides in the League, Saints were 2nd in the table and Notts were on a good run of form which had seen them dump Sunderland out of the FA cup the previous week.
The first half was pretty cagey. Notts had the best chance midway through the half when Alan Gow's shot was knocked away for a corner by Saints keeper Kelvin Davis. At half time, we only had to queue for around two minutes to get a cup of tea, although it wasn't the best brew I've ever tasted it must be said. Still, it was enough to warm me up for the 2nd half. Now the one complaint I have about the whole day was the stewarding. Me and three other Notts fans started the 2nd half standing up, because we were right at the back, and I for one prefer standing up. But a steward came over and told us to sit down. Fine, thats all well and good, but why did they not make the home supporters standing in the other half of the Northam Stand, and in a section of the Itchen Stand sit down too? The 2nd half was a bit more lively. Me, and indeed most of the stadium thought the hosts had taken the lead from a corner early in the 2nd half, but the linesman said that the ball didn't cross the line, and replays proved it to be the correct decision. Southampton barely threatened after that, and the game looked destined for a draw. For a side 2nd in the table, I have to say the saints fans were pretty quiet as well, and didn't really sing much. The full time whistle blew and we celebrated a cracking away point. We met up with my Saints mate outside the ground and exchanged a polite handshake, and discussed the game, and other results as we walked back to Southampton Central station. The walkway/tunnel that leads to and from the ground was a bit packed but we got away easily and got back to the station after twenty minutes to catch a bus back to Bournemouth. A fantastic day out, a magnificent stadium, and a cracking point on the road for the magpies. would like to return there again, hopefully in the Championship one day, although we might be thinking a bit far ahead there! Onwards and upwards for the Magpies.
Southampton v Bournemouth
League One
Saturday 2nd October 2010, 3pm
By Alexander Jones (Bournemouth fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I was looking forward to the short trip to St Mary’s for several reasons. Firstly, it was the first league meeting between the two sides for 50 years. It is largely unknown outside the area that is a fierce rivalry between the two clubs, so it was a mouth watering prospect. Also, St Mary’s is a very modern ground which I was yet to visit, making it an extremely excitable game to go and watch. The fact that Bournemouth were on a great run and Saints were off to an unpredictable start to the season, made this an interesting spectacle.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey from Bournemouth was straightforward, just along the M27. We decided to use the away supporter’s park and ride, located by Junction 8 of the M27, as this was the safest way of getting to the ground. Usually I would expect no problems parking in the city centre, but we decided to be cautious due to the rivalry and experiences of others in the last meeting in the cup 2 months earlier. From that point onwards finding the ground was easy. There were plenty of pubs to get food and drink.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
Before the game we decided to have a mooch around the stadium, before entering. The stewards seemed relatively friendly. However, due to the rivalry the home fans gave us a hostile reception outside the ground. I wouldn’t assume that you would experience this with any other team apart from Portsmouth! We got into the ground about an hour prior to kick off.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The ground itself is very modern, all seated with the corners filled in to enhance the atmosphere. The view from the away end was outstanding with ample legroom, which is a luxury in this division. It was everything you would expect from a new ground. Away fans receive an allocation of 4000, which was sold out for this game. The stadium has four decent stands, the ground perhaps a little too large for the division with all due respect. The catering facilities were good and prices were on par for all league grounds.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
The game itself was not good for me and my fellow supporters. Southampton got two dubious penalties, which Ricky Lambert scored both. Bournemouth played poorly after hitting the post in the first minute, we expected better! The atmosphere was electric and the roof came off when Southampton scored. There was a lot of derby day banter, which got unsavoury at the final whistle. The stewards weren’t over zealous and handled the minor trouble well. Catering facilities and toilets were good.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away from the ground was very easy in terms of transport. There were minor outbreaks of trouble in the surrounding area as anticipated. However we were back at the park and ride area 30 minutes after the final whistle. Obviously if you park in the city centre, the traffic would have been pretty grid locked. This is why I would recommend the park and ride.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I found everything about the trip to St Mary’s excellent bar the result! A good atmosphere was generated, while the combination of good facilities and a great view of the action would make me go back there. It is an enjoyable day which I would recommend to any fan.
Southampton v Walsall
League One
Saturday, 27th February 2010, 3pm
By Ed Butler (Walsall fan)
1.Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
After beating Leeds at Elland road recently 3 points seemed a little more plausible. An added plus is that I had seen Villa play here a fair few years before and it’s always nice to see Walsall have a run out at a bigger stadium.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey was made easier on the basis that I live in Winchester, however by all impressions the stadium is very easy to get to (Train and Coach) – however parking seemed to be an inconvenience across the message boards. Parking nearby at ocean village best bet – even if it costs £1.00 an hour!
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
I went to a great Wetherspoons a ten minute walk away from the train station called the Giddy Bridge – here I talked to some knowledgeable Southampton fans who were more than up to the banter!! – Food inside the ground apparently is overpriced, so best bet is to get some grub from the plentiful vendors supplying on the outside.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
St. Mary’s is a very impressive stadium and almost certainly deserves to be plying it’s trade within the Premiership. The away end was a quaint corner within the stadium a fair cry away from the home fans. However I imagine that the entire area is awarded to the away end for a championship/FA cup/Premiership match.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
The game was superb for 3 minutes, then we conceded five goals against a vastly superior Southampton side. Ending 5 – 1. The stewards were disciplined but not over bearing and kept a careful eye. In fact one endured comically the cry of “only one David Seaman.” But if you look like an ex – England legend don’t be a steward – I joke! Atmosphere was good, and the endless “Oh when the saints””go marching in” was quite fun to join in on once desolated to defeat. Half time food – expensive, toilets (smoked filled).
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting out of the stadium is easy as pie – the stadium sits within a vast barren area and there seem to be endless tunnels leading back towards the city centre, where a good level headed police presence eased all fans away from oncoming traffic.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A great day out, it is definitely worth staying over in the city during the night. Great locals, great pitch, sublime stadium. Worth a go for sure!! And we lost 5 – 1 (great free kick from us dead on 3minutes though :P)
Southampton v Ipswich Town
FA Cup 4th Round
Saturday 23rd January 2010, 3pm
By Ben The Tractorboy (Ipswich Town fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
As an Ipswich Town fan I had never been to Southampton. The FA cup is always well supported by the Ipswich fans and I felt it was an ideal opportunity to go to the game. Having beaten Blackpool away in the last round I was slightly optimistic prior to the game.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
As I travelled to the game via the clubs coaches the journey was smooth. We stopped at South Mimms service station and there was a friendly banter with a few Saints fans. The coaches were parked at the back of the Northam Stand – the away end. Without any delays it was a great start to the day.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
Before the game I bought a match programme, then had a decent Cornish pasty inside the ground. The home fans were very friendly, making the whole experience a lot easier. The stewards were fine and entrance to the ground was quick and easy. The stewards did search through the bags upon entrance through the turnstiles. There was no severe delay.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The ground was certainly very smart and modern both on the outside and inside of the stadium but in my opinion lacked character, it looked more like a bowl than a football ground! St Marys is certainly very similar in appearance to Middlesbrough’s’ stadium. The view from the away end was excellent, positioned behind the goal. As it was a cup game extra seats were provided to make the away end even larger.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
The game itself was very frustrating from an Ipswich point of view. The atmosphere was great with all Ipswich fans in full voice. Southampton fans were surprisingly quieter than I thought they were going to be. Losing 2-1 was a little embarrassing… but losing 1-4 at home to Portsmouth in the next round is worse! Toilets were clean; it makes a change from some grounds! Pies were good according to those around us.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
The away fans were not held behind after the game which is always good for a quick exit The coaches parked behind the back of the stand making which guaranteed a fast exit. Although I heard Park and Ride was easy and cheap as well I would recommend travelling to the ground by coach. More banter was shared between the fans as the coaches departed!
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
The Southampton ground is very impressive and well worth visiting. On the whole it was a very enjoyable day, pity about the result but in all honesty Southampton did deserve the win. Everything was first class apart from the result. I would certainly return if the sides were to meet again.