Only Saints can really hurt me or make me very happy. Do care about the national side, but it's harder to do so when the players don't understand that it's an honour to play for your country. We will never win any time soon, but to be fair there are a lot of countries that are always in that boat. Perhaps we should just lower expectations and accept that we are a Belgium, Finland or Romania and not a Spain or Germany.
First I am Southampton FC, Second I am Hampshire, Third I am English, Fourth I am British, Fifth a European, lastly a Human Being, Earth Rules OK?
As a kid they were on a par, but I guess my support now reflects the players interest and its priority in their career. Club all the way now. Honestly couldnt get upset if England lost in a final. To like something you have to have some affinity with it. With England there is none. However, I would goto a world cup (not to see England), but to experience the whole thing.
Definitely club, but when an international competition comes around, I do get pretty obsessed. I'm the least patriotic person you'll meet, but I can't even imagine the feeling of watching England win a World Cup. Thankfully, we don't have to choose between the two.
I was 12 when we won the World Cup and I hadn't been to a Saints game at that time so you can imagine how I felt. I did support Saints because most of my family did and when Terry Paine played against Mexico I was bursting with pride. A few weeks later I started going to the Dell on a regular basis and Southampton became far more important than England, to the point where I supported Wales in the Home Internationals even against England if Ron Davies was playing for them. Nowadays I cheer for England if they manage to get to the finals of the Euros or the World Cup but I don't get half so excited or miserable as when Saints are playing.
Club only - genuinely don't care about the England team, and probably won't until we have a complete change of philosophy in the FA. Can't remember the last game that I watched with interest, but think it was in the early 90s.
Country for me. As much as I love saints, and talk about them pretty much all year round, nothing beats the unity of all fans when talking about England. I can't even imagine how happy I'd be if we won the world cup. It would be incredible. You could celebrate with everyone you know. Only a handful of my friends are saints fans though, (as I live nearer Reading than Southampton), so I think that might be swaying my decision.
I was fifteen when we won the World Cup...have to say it felt fantastic. Everyone happy...car horns sounding. Felt on top of the world the next day. Must also remember that this was the swinging sixties, so pretty proud generally to be English.
I don't think that sense of national pride is felt much these days, probably has a lot to do with the lack of interest felt by many about the England team
To be honest I think Club first England second....but a close second. I think they need to do something very spectacular to win back the fans. Their lethargic performances against average countries have at times left a bad taste. Their inability to give a good account of themselves at tournaments is also a bit of a turn off as well.
I remember an old TV interview, I think it was Bally when Revie on his 1st appearance as England manager came in and said 'right boys Ive got you an appearance raise in money' and Bally looked at Emlyn Hughes and they both put their head in their hands meaning he really doesnt get it. We,d bleed for England. Not so sure nowadays.
I believe that the England players in the past have all given appearance money to charity..don't know if it's routine or was a one off.
We're still more than capable of uniting behind our collective loathing of foreigners. Seriously, **** patriotism (outside of sport).
The fans will always get behind a team when they see full 100% effort. A little skill as well always helps but we do like to see commitment when we have payed our hard earned.
Club first. Like many others my love of the English national team has almost been wiped out in recent years. It started to happen when Saints got relegated from the premier league. No longer did I have hope that a Saints player could get called up. I stopped watching match of the day too and lost interest in some of the utter tripe selected to play for our country. I must admit as a nipper I absolutely loved England. Lineker, Platt, Shearer, Gazza. Euro 96 was phenomenal ! Demolishing Scotland and Holland. Unbelievable. Singing 3 Lions on a shirt as well - such a simple song and I'm sure loads hate it but I love all that stuff....and please admit people over 28 - Do you shed a tear when you hear nessun dorma from italia 90' ?! Cos I do, and that's why I will always keep a little candle lit for England in hope that they can one day bring us back some national pride! You can also not beat cracking out the barbecue in the summer, getting the friends and family round and sticking the world cup/ euros on the box!
Saints...and admit to a certain perverse pleasure when England lose..especially when it's to a supposedly inferior nation....and I really think our national anthem is naff
Saints all day long. Our England players usually do no more than embaress the deluded patriots who go out and buy their little flags and stick on their cars every two years only to put in the most inept performances of pretty much any national side i give you the USA ,Slovenia and Algeria followed by a team that pretty much stuck up the white flag of surrender when getting stuffed by Germany. I grew up watching players like Charlton ,Ball , Banks and the chest puffed out with pride Bobby Moore this current crop for all the money and profile just dont cut it
