Football is so much more than just a game

Football is so much more than just a game

By Graham Hiley. Picture: Hazel Worthy.

Happy birthday this weekend to Lucy's dad!

Now, I have no idea who that is or who Lucy is... but I do know she had to buy a new birthday card following Saints' devastating expulsion from the Play-off final.

She posted a photo on X showing the message she had written.

She also posted that her father has rewritten his wedding speech to talk about football in general rather than Saints - and she is adding pink flowers to her red and white bouquet.

Now those may seem like relatively minor things in the greater scheme of losing out on a shot at place in the Premier League and the £200m that goes with it.

But it illustrates just how much Southampton Football Club means to fans.

It is not just about the money and the glamour and glory, it is about the supporters who follow them through thick and thin.

It is about people's lives and loves, their commitment and the cash they spend.

Being at Wembley meant so much to so many and they have had that cruelly snatched away by the Football League who have punished the thousands of innocents for the actions of just a few.

Fans who booked hotels, trains and flights (some from abroad) have been left badly out of pocket. Parents have had to tell their children that their dream visit to Wembley has been cancelled.

So we want to hear how this has affected you, emotionally or financially. Send your stories to editor@in-common.co.uk or Join us on Facebook: facebook.com/in.common.southampton.

Please tell your friends and share this on social media so the club will know just what this has done to the people they rely on.

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