Perhaps the saddest departure at St Mary's is taking place today.

There cant be a Saints supporter who hasnt been touched by Graham Hiley, but before you start looking to see who is stood behind you at St Mary's, Im referring of course to his work concerning Southampton Football Club over the past twenty years.

Ironically enough Graham started covering Saints for the Daily Echo at around the time that the paper version of the Ugly Inside emerged,if truth be known we arrived on the scene in the April of 1988, followed by Graham in the summer.

But his reports on Saints matches for the Echo were initially viewed with suspicion, bearing in mind that in these pre internet days, the Daily Echo was the only place to get an in depth report on the game, but Graham's problem was that his previous job with the Echo had been covering Pompey and in the minds of some that made him a Skate.

However it soon became clear that Graham was a new breed of reporter, his reports were more human and fan concentrated than the rigid and staid reports that were the norm at the time and he was a good friend to the UI giving us good publicity in the paper.

For the next 14 years the bulk of the area got their Saints news through Graham and his articles and reports and he became as associated with the club by Saints supporters as were any player or manager.

In 2002 came a big change, Graham left the Daily Echo and started working for the football club itself, editing their website and their programme, his job and title might have changed however, but his mode of attire didnt and the Disney ties associated with him continued to be a regular feature.

But after six years Graham has decided its time for a change and is moving on to pastures anew and what might be described as a bigger and better job in the footballing World, this it should be stated, at a time of big redundancies within the Club, was Graham's choice entirely.

So its the end of an era, twenty years have gone by in which Graham has reported on some of the most turbulent times in the football club, be it the days of Ian Branfoot, the reverse takeover of 1997, the debacle of recent years, or merely the large turnover of managers.

But it has to be said that he has also gave us his take on some of the happiest times, the emergence of one of the clubs greatest players in Matt le Tissier, some free flowing football and also the cup final and European football and in truth in the past at least, the good times far outweighed the bad.

Over his two decades he has seen 15 permanent managers plus several caretaker ones and of course more Chairman than is decent, however you could also say that he probably has seen every player to have pulled on a Saints shirt in that time as well, as surely there cant be another living soul who has watched as many games in the past twenty years as graham.

Farewell & the best of luck to Graham & his family as he embarks on his new career.           

Photo: Action Images

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