LIAM HARDING REFLECTS ON THE UPS AND DOWNS OF FOLLOWING SOUTHAMPTON FC...

AS A proud Hampshire man who had already supported and volunteered at his local club Basingstoke Town and was now studying sports journalism at Solent University, round the corner from St Mary’s, I decided a while ago that it was finally time to purchase a Southampton membership.
Due to being related to Ted Drake (my Great-Grandad), who played for Saints and was the club’s top scorer for three seasons in the early 1930s, I’d always looked out for their results, alongside the fact they are the closest Football League ...