Those Southampton supporters who were hoping to sit in their armchairs this evening and watch the silky skills of Mathew Le Tissier and James Beattie take on an AFC Totton side packed with youth and guests will be disappointed to here that the game will not be broadcast live this evening.

Preparations are well underway at The Snows Stadium in Totton for this evening's showdown between an AFC Totton XI and a Ex Saints team bringing a large squad drawn mainly from the 1980's & 90's with the added attraction of FA Cup winner David Peach making an appearance.

But the Stags were dealt a big blow when SKY TV announced that they had been unable to come to an agreement with AFC Totton for broadcasting rights and will now instead show the League One play off semi final between Blackpool & Oxford.

With tickets selling fast it looks likely to be Totton's second biggest crowd ever, behind the FA Cup 2nd round game when Bristol Rovers were the visitors in 2011/12 season. That game was shown live on TV, but a record crowd of 2,236 were in attendance.

That number cannot be exceeded this evening due to the capacity restrictions in place due to Covid 19, but it is already well into four figures and a late surge online along with walk ups on the night could see it be a very healthy turnout and a lot of money raised for charity.

Totton Police taking into account recent incidents at Anfield & Old Trafford where supporters have tried to stop the team buses en route to the ground have issued the following statement.

" The Ex Saints team bus will be met outside McDonalds in Commercial Road at 6.30pm by Police Motorcycle outriders and it will also be monitored from above by Helicopter, it will proceed through Totton and then up Salisbury Road and fans are asked not to try and impede the coach nor to light flares or throw missiles.

The Totton bus 12 will leave from behind West Quay at 6.20 and proceed along it's normal route and will also be met at McDonalds, the Totton team will walk the last 100 yards to the stadium as at Calmore Roundabout it turns left into Calmore estate.

Solent Blue Line request that the Totton team either pay by contactless or have the correct change ready.

For those intending on going the link for tickets is below.

Tickets are £10 for adults, £5 for children 13-16 years old and OAP's a family ticket of 2 adults and 2 children will be only £20 and members of the Royal British Legion and key workers can come in for £5.

They can be purchased online using the link below.

https://afctotton.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/ex_saints_v_afc_totton_sponsors

All proceeds will be donated to the EX Saints FC 's chosen charity of Southampton Schools Charities and to AFC Totton's chosen charity of Mountbatten Hampshire Hospice.

AFC Totton's ground is situated on Salisbury Road Totton next to the Calmore Roundabout and there is parking both at the ground and in the nearby Calmore Industrial Estate.

The Snows Stadium
Salisbury Road
Totton
Southampton
SO40 2RW

Tel: 023 8086 8981

Photo: Action Images

SaintPaulVW added 17:24 - May 21 TUI exclusive. I haven't seen this big story covered elsewhere.
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Number_58 added 08:48 - May 22 So Nick, were you classed a Totton sponsor or celebrity last night?
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