Growing up in the Cowes district of the Isle of Wight the closest thing I had to something that I could call ‘my city’ was obviously Southampton; but, in truth, for many years the only bits of it that I ever really experienced were The Dell, the walk from Red Funnel up to The Dell, the skating rink at the top of the town, the swimming pool and the high-street shops.
Apart from one trip as a very small boy with my dad to the Camper and Nicholson’s shipyard (where he worked as a welder) to pick up the stool that he made for me to stand on under the West Stand I don’t recall ever going to the eastern side of the city until St Mary’s started to be developed; it was only then that I really discovered the ethnic and cultural diversity within Southampton.
In recent years myself and Mrs Stickman (who has developed a passion for Saints rather late in life) have been fortunate enough to be able to treat ourselves to half a dozen or so weekends in the city, which has given me the opportunity to experience Southampton a little better.
We drive down on a Friday night, check into The Dolphin, pop next door to The Standing Order for a few beers, before heading down to Oxford Street for more beers and a meal. On the Saturday we either have breakfast in The Standing Order or The White Star in Oxford Street before heading for pre-match drinks in one of the bars in Ocean Village. I’ve long been interested by the historical development and growth of the dockland area of the city, and there is always a good vibe to the place, especially on sunny days, with plenty of home supporters and pockets of away supporters. We then head for St Mary’s via The Chapel Arms.
Although, as far as I can recall, Mrs Stickman and myself are both straight our first port of call back in Oxford Street after the match is usually The London, which, as some of you may know, is a gay pub. We have met quite a few Saints fans in there, and it always makes me smile that most of them feel the need to mention at some point that they aren’t gay and only go there because it’s a decent pub and never too busy at that time of day!
On Sundays we generally head up to Bedford Place for breakfast, then Mrs Stickman visits West Quay etc, whilst I go to Sea City, stroll round the parks, or just sit with a coffee down the high street watching the world go by, before heading back home.
Yep, as Fowllyd says earlier in this thread, Southampton certainly isn’t Barcelona; but there’s definitely worse places to spend a weekend, and it goes without saying that on match days there isn’t a city or place where I’d rather be.
Oxford Street, Southampton.
Ocean Village, Southampton