The Last Day of The Dell
1898 - 2001

• Woke at 7.30 Up & showered and dressed in my Saints Shirt straight away.
• James Beresford came round 9.00. Cars all decked in Red 'n White, set off 9.30.
• Took a detour to St Mary's, just to view the contrast of both the new & old. Plenty of pictures. I just kept saying to my 13 year old son (Dean) "I've waited 25 years for a new stadium, and that's ours you know!!"

• 11.50 arrived at the Fitz. Saints fans already inside drinking away. Could not sit still so ventured back down to the Dell to get a programme and take pics of memorable places. (The Ticket Office for example where I queued up to get my '76 cup final ticket) So many people around and still 3 hrs before kick Off. Programmes Sold out in Club shop!! Walked round to Archers to find another seller.
• Back to the Fitz. The regulars are now arriving. The 'TOSSA corner' starts to grow in numbers as friends old & new arrive. Les Miller turns up, no sign of his ticket yet so he starts to panic. The songs start: "Tommy Jenkins on the wing", "6ft 2, eyes are blue, Jimmy Steele is after you" etc etc...
• Andy turns up and gives Les his ticket. Phew!!! Plenty of Pictures of our last visit to the Fitz both inside then outside as well.

• Then down to the Dell, I do not think I have been in there so early before. Milton for me, which to be honest was quite good, it was the first stand that really got me hooked on Saints and fitting that I said goodbye from there.... And my seat was right behind the goal, not far from where stood in the 70's.
• Balloons now blown up and friends made with all 20 people around you. Everyone is smiling. The players emerge, the roof is gently rocked on its rafters. I get showered in strips of paper. Damn forgot the photos again, I'm so wrapped up in everything.

• The game is played, and we all know what happened. But it was the noise that hits you. If you stop singing for just a few seconds and listen to the deafening sound around you, and try to join in... you can't because the lump in your throat and the shiver down your spine renders you speechless.
• With around 15-20 mins left the substitutions are made. Franny & Matty emerge to equally fantastic receptions, that can only be held in respect for players that have Southampton FC stapled to their hearts.
• Roof rafters are now suffering as the sound increases. "Sing up the Archers" came the roar from the Milton as they mockingly take a sideways swipe at the constant noise coming from the Bikeshed and all the other corners of the ground. (the Arsenal fans can only sit and stare in amazement or simply join in).
• 2-2 was a great way to finish against one of Europes best teams and a fitting tribute to the Dell's final entry.
• But....... everyone forgot that Steven Spielberg had been drafted in to write this particular script.
• Its 88 minutes and up steps the Son of Southampton; "Le God". He is facing away from Goal, the ball bounce about 4 ft away from him, Chris Marsden races in to try and unleash a final effort on goal.... But facing the wrong way (towards the dug-out) Matt was having no one stealing this opportunity. He swivels around 180 degrees and unleashes an unstoppable volley into the roof of the net from the edge of the box...
• For a split second the whole stadium fell silent, and just like a volcano at the moment of eruption the roar bellowed out of 13,500 throats, the roar that finally blew the poor suffering roof from its supports. The Dell quite simply erupted in a scene of total euphoria. Who needs the bulldozers the fans did it on Saturday for free!! I fell in love with everyone around me, I just wish I was with my son to share this moment with him, but I knew he was somewhere else in the Milton screaming his head off.

• I can't tell you what happened from then on. I was in total hysteria. But the final whistle blew and at that particular moment, I so much wanted to be on the pitch. I didn't, because I couldn't, I was frozen to the spot. I do not know if I was singing, crying or just wailing..... The lap of honour went past, we sang from every part of the ground. The arsenal fans joined in our party and were a credit. Thanks.

• Then it was all gone!!!! That was it... THE END! The players disappeared, and I headed towards the exit just like I have done for the last 30+ years....
• That's when it hit me. "I shall never see this place again". I stopped and turned around and looked at the ground again. That was it!! I had to sit down and just collect my thoughts. I know, I am a SOG, but I am not too proud to admit that I was bleary eyed and totally emotional at this point. My son has since has told me that he took a picture of me.... I hope it's not too damming..... So when the Steward bought me back to earth and asked me to leave, I got a bit argumentative. "let me say my goodbyes please, you have had 30 years of my cash and this is now my time" . But when I realised that I was one of the last still in the stadium, I had to make the break and walk out..... I did not look around again! Goodbye Dell and thanks.
• For us TOSSA's / COLSLAW's it was not finished yet. We all met back at the Fitz. Said our goodbyes to the 'Corner Post' for the last time and went off to the Pensioners for a Bevvy. The whole area was buzzing, Flags outside all the Pubs, football games in the streets and stories from everyone about their Final Day.
• And there were those with souvenirs. We saw someone with Marian's training top, a match ball... AND... someone walking around with a Red Dell Seat in his ruck-sack... Then we saw a fan with a copy of the 'Pink'. "We got to get a copy of the Pink". So we descended on the nearest newsagents and bought nearly the whole stack.
• Final port-of-call was the Curry House. A great treat it was too. Not the best looking from outside, but the food was excellent, and the fitting thing is that it was in walking distance of the New Stadium. Thanks to our hosts Dave and Caz Then the long trip home to Hemel Hempstead and to watch MoTD which was kindly taped for us.

• And that was it.... I fell asleep so quickly, and I felt just like a youngster does after he spends his first day in Disney world, I fell asleep with a smile on my face. It was sheer magic.... Just one of the greatest days of my life.
• Thanks to all my Friends, TOSSA's & COLSLAW's for helping to make this day so enjoyable. Great company and a great experience. For me, that WAS the Final Game. I can not go to the two friendlies, it would never be the same. Thank you "The Dell" for so many years of enjoyment.
• Bye old girl :-(

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