Capacity: 32,505 (all seated)
Address: Britannia Rd, Southampton, SO14 5FP
Telephone: 0845 688 9448
Fax: 0845 688 9445
Ticket Office: 02381 780 780
Pitch Size: 112 x 74 yards
Pitch Type: Grass
Club Nickname: The Saints
Year Ground Opened: 2001
Undersoil Heating: Yes
Shirt Sponsors: LD Sports
Kit Manufacturer: Under Armour
Home Kit: Red, White & Black
Away Kit: Grey & Yellow
Itchen Stand External View
Looking Towards The Northam Stand
Kingsland and Chapel Stands
Chapel Stand
Itchen Stand
Northam Stand
Kingsland Stand
Chapel and Itchen Stands External View
Ted Bates Statue
The Club moved from The Dell to the new St Mary's Stadium in 2001. In some ways this saw the Club returning to its roots as it was originally founded as 'Southampton St Marys', hence the club nickname 'The Saints'. To be truthful the stadium looks, quite simply, superb. The stadium is completely enclosed, with all corners being filled with seating. There are also two great looking screens sitting on the roofs at each end. Running around three sides of the stadium, just below the roof, is a transparent perspex strip allows more light and facilitates pitch growth. On the remaining side, there is a row of executive boxes. The crowd are set well back from the playing action, as firstly there is a cinder track surrounding the playing surface and secondly the pitch itself must be the largest in the League (although the playing area does not use all of it). Outside the stadium behind the Itchen Stand is a statue of former Southampton legend Ted Bates.
Away fans are located in the Northam Stand at one end of the stadium, where normally up to 3,300 fans can sit. For cup games, this allocation can be increased to 4,750. The view of the playing action and the facilities within this stand are excellent. Leg room is good, although the width of the seating seemed to be a bit narrower than other grounds (either that or I am putting on weight!). The sizeable concourse behind the stand features a Ladbrokes, has TV's which show the game as it is played and a number of eating and drinking outlets. There are plenty of staff and the queues never seemed to get particularly long, which was a pleasant surprise. There is also a 'Pie & Pint' outlet, that as the name suggests, only serves beer and pies. Perhaps they should rename it as 'Heaven'!
I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to St Mary's and would happily return. The stadium has (contrary to other reports) a great atmosphere and the facilities are first class. I particularly commend the Club for the friendliness of their staff, from the stewards to the catering staff. Even as I left the stadium, a steward wished me an enjoyable journey home! Considering that away supporters are almost treated with contempt at some other clubs, this was a refreshing change. Coupled with the relaxed attitude of the home supporters and the excellent facilities, then this to me makes a visit to St Mary's one of the better days out in the League. Expect to be searched on entry to the stadium. The visitors turnstiles (K, L & M) open 90 minutes before kick off.
Phil Jones adds; 'There was an excellent view from all around the ground and the atmosphere was good. I was impressed by their having toilet facilities around the perimeter of the ground which are accessible prior to the turnstiles opening. Well done Southampton, it's the little touches like these, for the fans comfort and enjoyment of the day, which make all the difference'.
There are not many pubs located close to the stadium, so the choice for away fans is limited. One exception around a ten minute walk away from St Mary's is Browns pub on Millbank Street. This pub which also has Sky Sports normally has a mixture of home and away fans in attendance. Just a couple of minutes walk away from Browns on William Street, is the Tap It Brewery. Housed in an industrial unit, the brewery is open for games and offers a selection of craft beers. Nic Hallam a visiting Wolverhampton Wanderers informs me; 'In the Ocean Village, we found "The Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis" public house. This large establishment had an excellent choice of beers, friendly bar staff and a convivial mix of both home and away fans'.
Most fans seem to end up in the city centre before the game, where there are plenty of pubs to choose from. Paul Hunt a visiting Bristol City fan adds; 'On our last visit the Standing Order Wetherspoons outlet was for home fans only, with bouncers on the door. We ended up in Yates Wine Lodge in the central shopping area. There were also a lot of away fans in the Slug & Lettuce next door'. Away fans should avoid pubs along St Marys Street such as the Kingsland Tavern, Joiners and Isobar. Please remember though that if you do drink in the centre, that the stadium is a good twenty minute walk away. Otherwise, alcohol is served within the ground at a cost of around £4.20 a pint.
If you like your real ale then around a 20 minute walk away from St Mary's on Onslow Road (located north of the ground, in the opposite direction) is the Rockstone pub, which has up to seven real ales. It also known for its large gourmet burgers! A five minute walk from the Rockstone is the Guide Dog pub on Earl's Road which has up to 11 real ales on tap. Both these pubs are listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide.
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.
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 seem to be just heading for the city centre car parks and then embarking on the 15-20 minute walk to the stadium. I did this and parked in an NCP car park in Portland Terrace, which cost £8. I should point out though, that after the game the roads around the city centre become almost grid locked. It took me over an hour to get away afterwards.
Alternatively, on my last visit, I noticed a number of fans parking around the Marina area and then taking 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. Steve Ship a visiting Crystal Palace fan also recommends it; 'The Marina is called the Ocean Village which has plenty of parking, but it does charge to park there (it costs £4 for four hours or £2 after 6pm). It is no more than a ten minute walk to the stadium, has a pub on the complex (which had a decent mix of home and away supporters) as well as plenty of food outlets'. Please note though that due to the popularity of parking at Ocean Village it can take quite a while now to exit the car park and get back onto the main road (30-45 minutes). So if you are looking at a quick getaway then it maybe advisable to park further away from the stadium.
Barry Sear suggests 'I parked in Woolston (on the other side of the Itchen Toll Bridge which costs 70p) where there is plenty of street parking, and made the 15-20 minute walk from there to the ground over the Itchen Toll Bridge. To get there, you leave the M27 at Junction 8 and follow the A3025 to Woolston. I was back on the M27 within 10 minutes of getting back to the car'. Paul Bostock a visiting Burnley fan adds; 'There is a public car park (free for first 5 hours) located just south of the Woolston side access to the Itchen Bridge. It is on Oakbank Road and the entrance is at the junction of Bridge Road and Oakbank Road. For those without the benefit of sat nav, as you approach the bridge along the A3025 there is a roundabout at the entrance to the toll booths, take the first exit left onto Portsmouth Road down to the traffic lights, turn right into Bridge Road and the car park is immediately on the left. Across Oakbank Road are steps which take you up onto Itchen Bridge and St Marys is visible across the river to the right'. There is also the option of renting a private driveway near St Mary's Stadium via YourParkingSpace.co.uk.
Post Code for SAT NAV: SO14 5FP
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 out of 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. Eventually you will reach a complex road junction with a number of traffic lights. Cross Kings Way into Northam Road and follow this road for 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.
Thanks to Scott Lydon, Jeff Manning & David Furnell for providing the directions.
You can also walk to the ground from St Denys Station, which is about a 25 minute walk away. This area also has some good pubs. Kay Wilkinson provides the following directions: 'Leave the station on the platform 4 (South Western Arms Pub side) and proceed past the pub, which is on your right hand side and continue on down this road, past the Junction Inn and over the Horseshoe Bridge (this goes over the railway.) Take the next left, Empress Road and follow this for about 3/4 of mile past various industrial units and round past Mount Pleasant School, which is on your right. At this T junction turn left into Mount Pleasant Road and walk over the railway (tip if the train gates are down use the footbridge - you can sometimes wait here for 20 minutes). You then continue along this road, which changes into Radcliffe Road, past the mosque on your right and this road will take you all the way down to the underpass to the Stadium. This is the most direct route. If you want to visit the Dolphin Pub mentioned above you exit the Station on Platform one side using the bridge across the road and the Dolphin is directly in front of you. To visit the Rockstone pub (formerly called the Bevios Castle) follow the directions into Dukes Road and half way down this road is a right turn, this will take you out into Bevios Valley, turn left and the pub is about 3 minutes walk away on a road junction on the right hand side. To get to St Marys from here you can either walk up the hill following the road continuously, past the hospital and the fire station on your left, when you reach the main road, Northam Road, cross and pass through the bridge to the ground. Alternatively you can walk down the hill and take the first right, Mount Pleasant Road and follow the directions as from St Denys Station above'.
Ian Knight adds; 'The South Western Arms and the Junction pubs near to St Denys Stadium are both excellent real ale outlets and are football fan friendly. The Junction also serves good food. Allow around 25 mins to get to the ground in good time. Basically you just follow the crowd, but recently the council have put in a rather pleasant boardwalk alongside the western bank of the River Itchen thus saving the walk over the railway bridge and down Empress Road to the level crossing at Mt Pleasant. The boardwalk comes out in a small industrial estate the stadium side of the level crossing. From there follow the directions above.'
Booking train tickets in advance will normally save you money! Find train times, prices and book tickets with Trainline. Visit the website below to see how much you can save on the price of your tickets:
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If you require hotel accommodation in Southampton then first try a hotel booking service provided by Booking.com. They offer all types of accommodation to suit all tastes and pockets from; Budget Hotels, Traditional Bed & Breakfast establishments to Five Star Hotels and Serviced Apartments. Plus their booking system is straightforward and easy to use. Just input the dates below that you wish to stay and then select from the map the hotel of interest to get more information. The map is centered on the football ground. However, you can drag the map around or click on +/- to reveal more hotels in the City Centre or further afield.
Like a number of Clubs Southampton have a category system (A & B) for the pricing of match tickets, whereby the most popular games cost more to watch. Category A prices are shown below with Category B prices in brackets.
Home Fans
Itchen Stand (Premium Centre): Adults £52 (B £46), No Concessions Except Disabled
Kingsland Stand (Premium Centre): Adults £49 (B £42), No Concessions Except Disabled
Itchen & Kingsland Stands (Outer Centre):
Adults £46 (B £38), Concessions £42 (B £34), Under 22's £35 (B £29), Under 18's £31 (B £26), Under 11's* £19 (B £14)
Itchen & Kingsland Stands (Wings):
Adults £42 (B £34), Concessions £37 (B £30), Under 22's £31 (B £25), Under 18's £25 (B £21), Under 11's* £16 (B £12)
Northam & Chapel Stands:
Adults £40 (B £33), Concessions £35 (B £28), Under 22's £29 (B £21), Under 18's £23 (B £19), Under 11's* £14 (B £10)
Family Enclosure:
Adults £39 (B £32), Concessions £27 (B £22), Under 22's £23 (B £19), Under 18's £19 (B £16), Under 11's* £12 (B £8)
Away Fans
As per an agreement with all Premier League Clubs, away fans will be charged a maximum price of those shown below for all League games:
Adult £30
Over 65's £27
Under 22's £22
Under 18's £18
Under 11's £12*
* Under 11's tickets only available when purchased in conjunction with an adult ticket.
Official Programme: £4
Portsmouth.
Southampton FC fixture list (takes you to the BBC Sports Website).
For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the Level Playing Field website.
The Club offer regular tours of the stadium. The tours cost Adults 12, Concessions £6. Family tickets (2 Adults + 2 Children) are also available at £30. Saints season ticket holders and club members are admitted at half price. Tours can be booked by calling 0845 688 9370.
Record Attendance
32,363 v Coventry City
Championship League, April 28th, 2012.
Average Attendance
2018-2019: 30,139 (Premier League)
2017-2018: 30,794 (Premier League)
2016-2017: 30,936 (Premier League)
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me at: [email protected] and I'll update the guide.
Special thanks to:
Owen Pavey for providing the ground layout diagram.
Haydn Gleed for providing the YouTube video of St Mary's Stadium.
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)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting St Mary's Stadium?
This was a ground that I had not been to before.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I travelled by train from South Wales. Finding the ground was relatively easy. I just followed the signs and it took approx 25 minutes.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I called into the Yates pub which was halfway between the station and the ground. The pub was mainly occupied with Burnley fans. The atmosphere was most friendly and they were more than happy to engage in conversation. Breakfast was relatively inexpensive and they served Doombar Ale which was competitively priced.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the St Mary's Stadium?
The ground is well maintained and a lot better than some of the ‘new’ grounds that I’ve been to.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The atmosphere inside the ground was lively and this was due to the great support that Burnley had. The catering facilities were also very good. They had a variety of good beers (£4-20 a pint) and pies/pasties etc.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away was relatively straight forward. One simply had to follow the signs back to the station.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A really good day out. Southampton are certainly a top 20 club and deserve the loyalty of their fan base.
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)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting St Mary's Stadium?
Away tickets are very much in scarce supply for Wolves aways nowadays so it's pretty much a case of going wherever/whenever we can when the chance arises. Although an away sell-out long in advance of matchday, there were more tickets knocking around for the trip to Southampton than usual....presumably due to the 3,300 allocation, distance from the Midlands and the fact that St Mary's is (arguably) one of the somewhat blander awaydays in the top-flight.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Travelling from London we placed our fate at the hands of South Western Railway. Erring on the side of caution having been messed around by SWR more times than I'd care to remember over the years, we booked tickets on the 10.01am service out of London Waterloo. Unsurprisingly this was duly cancelled and we ended up arriving in Southampton over an hour late after a prolonged changeover in Basingstoke. If travelling here by SWR, always allow as much time as you can.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I have been to St Mary's 3 or 4 times previously and other than the excellent 'Guide Dog' pub on one of those occasions had never found too much of interest pubs-wise. Determined to find something a bit more inspiring this time we tried the Dancing Man Brewery on Town Quay (beautiful historic building incorporating microbrewery, albeit not really enough staff for a matchday & perhaps rather more restaurant than pub in truth) followed by the Red Lion (quirky, historic, wood-panelled boozer with various heraldic motifs adorning walls). Both made for very pleasant stop-offs, with a mix of perhaps 50/50 between those heading to the game and regular punters.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the St Mary's Stadium?
About a 25 min walk from the Red Lion, we pretty much just followed the crowd through the Chapel district to St Mary's. Not necessarily a stadium to set pulses racing, just another Leicester/Derby set-up really. Quite an array of children's entertainers and fast food vans surround the stadium in their various guises. It's a family-friendly environment and no suggestion at all of any needle between the two sets of fans. Walked past a chap selling 'any bag of sweets for a pound' and was still regretting not partaking over an hour later. Would toffee bonbons have ruined the aftertaste of 3 quick pints of IPA? We'll never know....
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
A very entertaining game of football. Southampton took a deserved 2-0 half time lead against a Wolves team who looked 'leggy' at best (others around me were far less sympathetic in their assessment!). Nuno's small squad have come so far in a short space of time and owe us nothing, but with lethargy creeping into our play many feared this had been a game too far. I went down to the concourse to use the toilet at half time (a bizarrely only a small number of gents toilets in such a new stadium) to find the locals in the opposing half of the Northam Stand entertaining themselves by kicking the metal partition fence and shouting abuse over to the (unseen) away fans. Some of whom of course replied in kind. All a bit needless and idiotic but presumably Southampton could prevent home fans from antagonising visitors in this way through the strategic positioning of either a prominent CCTV camera or a big lump of a steward or two. Still, no harm was done and given the epic queues I was never going to get a pint anyway!
In the second half Wolves were out a full 3 minutes before the home team, which is, of course, football shorthand for 'they've had a rocket up them'. And something clearly clicked as Wolves played the second half at a tempo that the home team couldn't live with. The end product was a stunning fightback to complete a 3-2 away win. There isn't much of an atmosphere at St Mary's (just the usual generic songs that you hear up and down the country by the small groups of vocal home fans either side of the away section) and this was compounded by the fact that all 3 Wolves goals were subject to lengthy VAR reviews. But even if this perhaps didn't have the epic tenacity of similar fightbacks over past years, it was still a superb effort from Wolves to take all 3 points. All 5 goals down our end as well, and a sunny day in January! I was almost on the verge of forgiving the ineptitude of South Western Railway for a minute..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We left the vicinity of the stadium by crossing the narrow railway bridge that always creates a bottleneck here. With a more volatile home support, this set-up could create all kinds of problems from a security/policing perspective but in fairness, I have yet to see anything of note transpire on that front on visits here. Once you're across the bridge the crowd can filter out across multiple routes. Due to the earlier train problems we headed straight for the train station (25 mins walk) as further delays were anticipated (and indeed, materialised).
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Ultimately it will come down to personal preference but part of me is slightly dispirited to see the growth of grounds like these over recent years. In terms of clubs of a similar size, I would certainly prefer to visit a club like Norwich City or Charlton Athletic where they can offer both a similar family-friendly environment but in stadiums that still feel like proper football grounds. Maybe it's an age thing? I don't know....ignore me. It's fine, and the Wolves won. So happy days!
Southampton v Huddersfield Town
FA Cup 3rd Round
Saturday 4th January 2020, 3pm
David Morris (Doing the 92)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the St Mary's Stadium?
As a neutral, I wanted to see how much of an improvement St Mary's was over the Dell.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
No trouble finding the ground and I used a car park in Ocean Way. It was then a seven or eight minutes walk to the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I went straight from the car park to the ground. The home fans and stewards all very friendly. Not a hint of trouble.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the St Mary's Stadium?
The usual modern stadium. Lacking any character but a good view of the pitch. I'm not tall so personally I wasn't bothered about the seating being cramped. I wasn't aware of any visiting fans so I can't comment on that. The usual irritating distraction of constantly changing advertising hoarding signs surrounding the pitch. And I was not impressed either with post-goal displays on the screens. I've seen much better at other grounds. Southampton seemed much more concerned with keeping advertisers happy than informing fans with what's happening. To be fair a lot of prominence was given to displays for fans' birthday announcements.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
A 3rd round FA Cup tie so lots of unknown names in the line ups. There was a good atmosphere inside the ground. The stewards were helpful and friendly. The home side won 2-0.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Very easy to exit the ground.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall a pleasant enough day but the stadium experience? Well to be honest - a bit bland.
Southampton v Leicester City
Premier League
Friday 25th October 2019, 8pm
Pete Woodhead (Doing the 92)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
I was planning on attending a match at Brighton the following day and was lucky this was on to save too long a trip. Little did I know what a beauty this would be.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I parked down a side street five minutes walk away, be warned that my sat Nav to a car park was trying to take me down a blocked off road due to the crowds so get there early.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I was running late and it was pouring down with heavy winds. I was lucky to make it to my seat. I sat in the home end and even with the score so bad they were all in good spirit.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the St Mary's Stadium?
Outside it looks much bigger and I was pleasantly impressed. The away end was quite large and packed. There was an impressive light show and music before kick off. Playing Craig David tunes as their only good export.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
I thought I saw it all after being at the Manchester City 8-0 win over Watford then this goes and tops it. Perhaps a harsh red card for the home side after 9 minutes, but Leicester were too much to handle and ran out 9-0 with 3 from both Vardy and Perez. Many fans left at half time with more leaving once the 6th went in. The inside area was large and service was quick however may have been due to half the fans walking out due to the score.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away was simple, 5 mins walk back and was out of town with 15 minutes of the final whistle.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
An amazing day. It was well worth being soaked through and not warming up for 4 hours after kick off. St Mary's is a nice ground but deserves a better team to be playing in it.
Southampton v Tottenham Hotspur
Premier League
Saturday 9th March 2019, 3pm
Scott Brannon (Tottenham Hotspur)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting St Mary's Stadium?
My friend had volunteered to drive down to Southampton so I was looking forward to having a few beers before the game. I had been to St Mary's before but never by car and it was about 14 years ago.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We left Bishops Stortford at about 9:45 and it took just over two hours to get there, we didn't hit any real traffic problems. We decided to park in a car park called Oakbank because my friends brother recommended it was a good place to park as it's not too close to the ground so getting away after the match is easier.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We basically decided to wander around and walk into the first pub we came to which was called "The Victoria" this turned out to be an excellent decision for us. The pub is about a 20 minute walk away from the ground so it wasn't packed, so getting a beer was easy, I personally don't enjoy pubs that are so packed that you spend half an hour trying to be noticed at the bar. This pub had a pool table which was only 50p a go, so we spent a good couple of hours playing pool. There were a few saints fans in the pub and they came over and had a chat with us, was a very friendly place. Unbelievably the landlady was a Spurs fan and was wearing her Spurs top which we couldn't quite believe. If you enjoy having a few beers and don't want all the queueing at bars then I recommend this pub for away fans, just don't leave too late because it's a good walk to the stadium.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of St Mary's Stadium?
St Mary's is a very nice modern stadium. The stewards were friendly.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Spurs controlled the first half and were 1-0 up at half time, but didn't turn up second half and Southampton deservedly won the game. I didn't buy any food or drink at the ground, I normally avoid buying food and drinks in stadiums because they are normally expensive for what they are.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
After the game, we walked the 20 minute walk back to the car and we got stuck in traffic for about 10/15 minutes but that was about it and we were away.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I enjoyed the day, shame about Spurs ruining it with a terrible performance but you get used to that as a Spurs fan. I would really recommend the Victoria pub to people who prefer a comfortable pint rather than all the crowds before the match.
Southampton v Everton
Premier League
Saturday 19th January 2019, 3pm
Simon Rogers (Doing the 92)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting St Mary's Stadium?
Just two more grounds to go to finish the 92 (again!). This is the 125th ground at which I have seen league football.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We left Warwick at 10.30am and we parked in the car park Paul Bostock recommended on this website at about 12.45. Charges here are £1 for up to 4 hours but the car park (enough space for about 80 cars) was pretty full by about 1pm.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Just ate sandwiches in the car and then walked the 20 minutes to the ground.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the St Mary's Stadium?
Just like a lot of modern grounds I guess - it looked clean and tidy and functional.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
It was interesting to see the away supporters located next to the noisiest home supporters at the same end of the ground. Just had a coffee before the game and there seemed to be plenty of room in the concourse although the TV's kept flickering on and off. The game itself was a little disappointing - not enough Premier League class on show and too many misplaced passes and the ball humped forward to small forwards.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We left in the second minute of added time and within 10 minutes of getting to the car we were on the M27 and on our way home.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Good to get another new ground - just Swansea (and the new Spurs stadium) to go to complete the lot.
Southampton v Watford
Premier League
Saturday 10th November 2018, 3pm
Norman Miller (Watford)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting St Mary's Stadium?
I have been to Southampton a few times to watch a game and I had identified it as a good club to bring my grandson to his first away game.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We travelled on one of the club coaches, so it was an easy trip. Our coach parked right outside St Mary's Stadium.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We walked four minutes around the corner to the Prince of Wales pub. Where although predominantly Southampton fans were present they welcomed away supporters. We enjoyed burgers and a beer there and had some real fan chat. The home fans showed us tremendous respect and made us welcome.
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 an impressive stadium. It has a very spacious concourse allowing easy access to bars and toilets.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was played in torrential rain so lots of sloppy play from both teams. Poor officials made crucial mistakes for both sides. A 1-1 draw was probably the fair result. The stewards were low key and not intrusive they controlled in a positive manner as always The Watford fans were second to none and produced a lot of the noise in the ground. My grandson was handed Ben Foster's gloves at end of the game, which topped a great visit.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Straight back on the coach and back home in two hours.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I’m glad I chose this match as my grandson's Jack first away game. It was a great day and I hope that Southampton stay up for next season perhaps with a manager who does not stifle the game.
Southampton v Brighton & Hove Albion
Premier League
Monday 17th September 2018, 8pm
Viv Johnson (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting St Mary's Stadium?
It as my first time visiting St Mary's and I was also hoping for points.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We parked by the common - bit of a walk, but are parking and near the ground is really busy so we would be blocked getting out. It was a nice level walk to St Mary's.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Went to the Rockstone pub - a real ale pub that had just had a gin festival and does the most amazing burgers! They have a superheat chilli challenge burger and board games. A great geeky place.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the St Mary's Stadium?
It is a nice modern ground - they did have quite a pyrotechnic show before the match. Loads of noise! Loads of flames and loud music. I loved it!
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
I was sat in Block 43, Row JJ and 1125. It was behind the goal but with a nice clear view of the match. The Southampton fans really nice and helpful. A Meal deal available on the concourse for £8; a pint, pie and a snack (a large Mars bar). The pie was good, but the plastic fork was wholly inadequate to the task - I mostly ate the pie from the foil tray.
Brighton went 2-0 down but had a great fight back and the game ended 2-2. A nice scoreboard but they mixed up two of our players and only put up their subs. Bit poor really not to even name our players when they came on as subs. I was stood for the whole match.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
The roads around St Mary's were just solid - we walked to the Common by which time there was no traffic. Really don't park near the ground.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A grand day out!
Southampton v Brighton & Hove Albion
Premier League
Monday 17th September 2018, 8pm
Geoff Burrow (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the St Mary's Stadium?
We had made a reasonable start to the season, and I was hopeful of at least a point from this game. This was my second visit to St Mary's so the ground was not new to me, although my previous time was on a cold dark January night. This is one of the few Premier League grounds outside London that is within 2 - 3 hours travel time for me so it is one that I try and visit.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
No problems as I travelled by organised coach, which parked outside the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I walked to the Palmerston Park area and found a café to get a light meal and drink before the match. I knew the area a bit from previous visits to the city so had an idea of where I was going. There was a pizza restaurant next door that was full of Southampton fans, I didn't go in, not because of them, but I didn't have the time to wait in a very busy restaurant! After eating I walked the mile or so to the ground with no difficulty.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the St Mary's Stadium?
Seeing the ground in daylight for the first time, I was impressed by its modern appearance and the fact there is plenty of space around the ground outside. My seat was high up in the away end behind a goal, from where I had to duck to see the screen at the far end, but otherwise, the view around the pitch was excellent and uninterrupted. As I couldn't see the sky the impression was of being in an enclosed arena.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The pre-match crowd warm-up was certainly different to anything I have experienced before. I have to say I didn't like the flashing lights, extreme sound and smoke fireworks that preceded the team's entry. For me, it just wasn't football. Perhaps it is an age thing. After that, the game was fairly ordinary, at least in the first half in which little happened. Southampton went into a 2- 0 lead and then in the last half hour we started to play. It seemed inevitable we would claw the game back given the amount of pressure we exerted at the end, but we left it late. It was in the added time that a penalty was awarded, 2 - 2. Saints fans may feel hard done by but I would say we earned the point by relentless pressure in the latter stage of the game.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Again, no problem in getting away from the ground to the nearby coach. It did seem to take an age though, to exit the ground from my seat high up in the away end. By that time the rest of the ground was empty.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
An enjoyable evening, made all the better by the final result.
Southampton v Swansea City
Premier League
Saturday 12th August 2017, 3pm
Andy Jack (Swansea City fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the St Mary's Stadium?
Having never visited St. Mary's Stadium, couples with Southampton's record of not having a won a home Premier League game on the opening day of the season. I was cautiously optimistic of getting a result.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We drove down from North Wales as far as Basingstoke from where we got a train down to Southampton. The reason being that it was a Saturday in August and the traffic around the A34/M3 junction can be horrendous. I'd also heard stories of taking an age to get out of Southampton after the match by car, so the train became the obvious answer. Parking at Basingstoke cost £3 and return train ticket cost £12.50 and you could basically travel on any train. The trains were about 20 minutes apart and take between 30 and 44 minutes to get to Southampton Central depending on where they are going to. Immediately outside Southampton Central there are buses waiting to take you directly to the ground of you don't fancy the half hour walk. The bus cost £3 for adults and £2 for under 15's. The buses stop about 200yds from the ground. It was excellent.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
As we took the bus directly to the ground we didn't buy anything but did notice a couple of popular catering vans. I didn't speak to any home fans as such but I'm led to believe that they're a friendly bunch.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of St Mary's Stadium?
St Mary's Stadium is a modern stadium, nothing really impressive until you enter inside. We were in the corner near the home fans and the view was excellent but the seats do seem to be a little bit narrower width wise. If you're in the first few rows then you may come away with a suntan in Summer so beware.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game wasn't the best and Southampton would have been disappointed to only come away with a point. Their fans have been given those cardboard fan clappers and what a dreadful noise they make as well. There were over 3,400 visiting Swansea fans who were loud, particularly at the start of the match and towards the end when we were chasing the three points. The stewards were fine. There is a decent concourse where they were showing Sky Sports, a betting booth and a couple of bars. The only price I can remember was £4.20 for a pint of lager.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We retraced our steps to the waiting buses and got back to the station in time to catch the 5.30pm train to Basingstoke, arriving there at 6.05pm.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
St Mary's Stadium was not a bad day out. The football could have been better but overall I enjoyed it and would recommend a visit to the 'New' Dell.
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 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 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 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 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.
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Updated 13th April 2020
