What a ride, what a story

August 2001, Saints moved to their new home, The Friends Provident St Marys Stadium. There was new found hope, and a real sense that the club were going places. I remember sitting there for the Espanyol game thinking 'people will now see us as the big club we are, the stadium confirms this'. That season we started with Stuart Gray in charge, he'd been a good servant to the club but fans were divided on whether they thought he could do the job. Then along came Gordan Strachan and suddenly there was huge optimism. He built a strong squad, made them as fit as a fiddle and gave them a winning mentality. He took the Saints to 4th in the Premiership by Christmas '02 and to their first FA cup final since '76. European football beckoned as well and we were all loving it, could things get any better? The answer was a profound no as Strachan suddenly upped sticks and left the club. 'Personal reasons' was the excuse, but us fans could tell something untoward was going on backstage...

So along came another caretaker, this time Steve Wigley, another good servant to Saints - however his two teneres in charge were poor, as Saints struggled to get the points and were drifting down the table, fast. Paul Sturrock came in and we were hopeful, but he quickly left without making any impact at all. Things were on a downer at the club, I mean something really special had to happen to fix the mood. 'I know, what if we stole our arch rival's manager, who was well loved and respected by them' - 'Nah, that would never happen... hang on...' . Yep, you wouldn't believe it, turn on the TV and there is Harry Redknapp holding up a Saints shirt next to our Chairman, in our stadium, it was like a crazy dream. We all found it hilarious at the time of course, spiting our rivals in probably the best way possible! However, what began as optimism quickly turned to desperation - despite the huge squad Redknapp assembled, things didn't improve and we fell into the relegation zone and ended our season bottom of the Premiership.

Things had hit a rock bottom low, or should I say 'Lowe' - almost as soon as the Championship season began, Redknapp was off and back to Pompey - 'what a p**s take!' Rumours began to circulate that major unrest between Redknapp and Lowe had been the cause. What and earth was this man, Lowe, doing to our club? - questions began to emerge. Then anger began to ensue as former Rugby coach Sir Clive Woodward was given a high profile position and salary - 'A rugby man, in football? - Lowe is off his rocket!' - Indeed he was. No sooner than we lost one of our most exciting players in recent years, a certain Theo Walcott, Saints began another decsent down the league table. They flirted with the bottom but managed to sustain themselves by May.

By this time fans had well and truly turned on Lowe and that summer he resigned, once again there was new hope, especially when George Burley, a man with a good pedegree in the Championship, was brought in to take Saints back up. Things were great, new board, new manager, new players, good results - the Saints were in the playoffs and just 3 matches away from their return to the Premier League. However, that match at Pride Park complete with penalty shootout meant the following year, it had to be done all over again.

And so the next season began, financial concerns were starting to be raised, the Saints were struggling. Players were sold to cut the deficit but it was to no avail, money was still falling down the drain. Fans began to worry... and then Burley left to take the Scotland job, nobody had a problem with it but things were on a downer again. John Gorman and Jason Dodd took over and did, well, nothing really! Then came in 'no nonsense' man Nigel Pearson, he steadied the ship and kept Saints up by the skin of their teeth on the final day of the season. Pitch invasion and all, Pearson was a hero in the eyes of many.

The financial problems were still there though, and Lowe returned to take his place once more. The first thing he did was sack Pearson, 'fool'. More players were sold and the club were left to rely on their youth team to compete in the Championship. Lowe decided to live his dutch football fantasy out for real with our club, it all ended in tears of course.

What followed was without doubt the worst experience for any Saints fan to ever, ever go through. I wont go into details, we all know what happened. The club was on the brink of dissapearing forever, what complete and utter despair - shock, horror, you name it, we felt it.

Then, a glimmer of hope, a light at the end of a long, dark tunnel - along came a Swiss business man named Marcus Liebherr.... the club, it's players, it's fans have never looked back - the rest as they say is history!

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We Love You Marcus!

 

did we all need reminding about that?
yer we did, shows something special is happen at the moment and i lov it

 

BOOM!!!! The last line gets me!

 

..and ??

Feeling bored were we?

 

Brilliant read, thank you.

 

the green eyed monster rears it's ugly head

 

No mention of a certain couple of home and away 1-4's then ??

 

Nor our multiple victories over the fishy few so how about you run along to the forum where you belong? There's a good boy.

 

Soft wins when we were at our lowest and where the scoreline flattered you. No need for us to be envious of that. The future is bright, the future is red and white.

 

Great article! Enduring the lows makes the highs that much more special!

 

No, because they haven't happened yet. We don't play you until December iirc...

 

We'll be ready for you

 

34 saints wins - Skates a mere 21 .... Jog on lil boy!

 

Well you obviously are for writing a completely irrelevant comment that doesn't concern Portsmouth!!

Now find something constructive like fixing your shed, ohh wait I mean falling down park!

 

Brilliant read... Sending tingles Down my back thumbs up

 

Nashy, as I said- go check your trophy cabinet mate.

 

Indeed. Besides, The future is blue, the future is... pooh, doesn't quite have the same ring to it.

 

frattonfunkdaddy - I posted this on here to insight the thoughts of fellow Saints fans not for a WUM to come on here and p**s everybody off. Now can I refer you to this thread which should appear at the top of the Pompey forum as well as ours: http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/58997-A-Joint-Statement-from-the-Mods....?

And I also politely but firmly ask you to leave and go back on to your own club's forum. Many thanks.

 

Um, seriously. Is that all you can use against us. Hardly a world of difference between trophy numbers is there

Success is more than a single piece of silverwear.

Lets discuss this deeper???

- YEARS OF TOP FLIGHT FIRST CLASS FOOTBAL
- FAN BASE
- ATTENDANCES
- FINANCES
- SQUAD AND SQUAD NUMBERS
- STADIUM
- FUTURE
- PAST
- HEAD TO HEAD
- RECOGNITION FROM OTHER CLUBS

I mean the list goes on. Granted you paid your way to the latest trophy and look what happened as a result. Does this give you bragging rights allowing you to believe you are a bigger better club. I for one have little issue with the blue few down the road.... but come on! Dont come on our board gloating and backing it up with 1 minor statistic that we all agree to anyhow.

Run back to your side and come back when you are wise enough sunshine

 

Great read mate

As for the Pompey WUM...What was your attendance tuesday night?