Mark Rowlands looks forward to when the Saints come marching in....

So then, Southampton.    The Saints.  Home of Queen Elizabeth 2 and Queen Mary 2 and there was you thinking that Brighton was home to all the Queens.

On a weekend when New Orleans Saints are at Wembley maybe it is somewhat appropriate that Southampton Saints are at Swansea.  No idea why it's appropriate but it took up a few lines and means it is a few words less that I need to write to make my allowance up so it is appropriate.

Last month the Swans played their first local derby for ten years when Cardiff played at the Liberty.  You think ten years is a long time but Southampton have not played their rivals in the league for over 40 years.  It was 2nd January 1965 when Northampton last entertained them.

The legacy of Southampton also lives long in the hearts of those who pass through it.  Indeed, many who passed through the doors of the Dell kept part of that history when they left the stadium - there was Scottish footballer Ian John who supported Southampton when growing up in Sweatie Land so much that he kept the name.   Famous horse race the St ledger was named after the very first set of accounts produced by the football club whilst Nicole, Melanie and Shaznay named their band after their sexual conquests in Southampton in the late 1980s.

On the celebrity fan front Southampton have the following

Roger Black and David Frost as part of their kick racism out of football pledge, David Gower as part of their "we love Swansea" pledge, Fiona Phillips as the token woman pledge and Craig David for no reason whatsoever - probably because nobody else wanted him. 

Southampton is home to one of England's best universities whilst the docks at Southampton are world renowned - strangely enough the world over.   As a small town in Portsmouth they rejoiced in Pompey's FA Cup victory last year almost as much as we did in Swansea whilst their most favourite footballing son was named after Matt Le Jack - Matt Le Tissier.  Who was born in Guernsey so quite how he is Southampton's son is probably a matter for the CSA to resolve.

And so we have it - Southampton come to town and that was Next Up.

See you soon x

Photo: Action Images

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