Words and photos by Jason Flynn.
Saturday 25th April, it’s here, finally after what’s seemed like years, it’s here, Southampton Football Club, The Saints, our Day out at Wembley for the FA Cup Semi Final, is here, my Club, OUR Club, little old Southampton are going to Wembley.
My day starts early. I meet my son and daughter at 7.50am, and we walk to Woolston to meet my grandson, my Son-in-law, our mate and his 2 boys. Then we are off!
We get to Waterloo and straight to ‘Spoons, the bedrock of all football away days, for breakfast and a pint. It’s absolutely jam packed, but a real great vibe. Then breakfast is done, tube to Wembley!
As we come round the last bend, there she is, the massive steel arch, the Wembley Arch. My daughters 1st trip, her 1st away game, one very proud dad.
We leave the tube and walk up Wembley Way to a chorus of “YELLOWS, YELLOWS” destination ‘Box Park.’
WOW, thousands of mushes there, a sea of yellow. We get a pint listen to the music, have a sing song and soak up the good feelings!
I took a moment out, stood back and looked at my family and my extended football family. I was stood on the balcony and watched everyone sing, laugh, cuddle, drink and dance, nobody cared about race, religion or sexuality, everyone just living for this, this moment in time, about our city, our club, our team, our mates, made me so proud, proud to just be a small piece of this day in history.
On to Wembley: my daughters face as we entered the arena, I actually cried a tear watching her.
OMG, no, surely not SAINTS HAVE SCORED! Absolute carnage, bodies and limbs everywhere, bedlam, tears, beers and cheers everywhere, hugging people I’ve never met before. A seven-year-old boy behind me, in his dad’s arms crying omg, we can’t do this can we?????? Sadly no – the game ends in defeat, back to Box Park with my new, bigger family!
I love this game, I love this City. For one day no one cared, no one labelled me, we all had the same shirt on, and that’s all that mattered!
Southampton till I die.
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