Southampton Vs Leicester City

Matchday 79 marked an important return to our 92 Football League grounds challenge, following my recent hospital visit due to a groin hernia. Originally, we had planned to attend Crawley Town vs Shrewsbury Town as Matchday 79, but due to the pain I was experiencing, we had to cancel. Fortunately, Crawley Town were very understanding and issued us a refund. Although I’m still awaiting surgery, for now, I’m managing the pain, taking things easy, and avoiding overexertion. This match provided an ideal opportunity to complete our first full league, as it was primarily a train journey and not too physically demanding.

Southampton FC were incredibly generous in offering us complimentary tickets after months of emailing back and forth, so thank you very much for everything you did for us both. This made the Premier League the first division that we would complete during our challenge, which was a significant milestone for both me and Liam. Our day began with a quick 15-minute drive to Sandwell and Dudley station, where we caught a train to Birmingham New Street. We arrived with a little time to spare, so we stopped by Greggs in the station to grab some drinks—coffee for me and hot chocolate for Liam—before heading to the platform. The short 10-minute journey to Birmingham was smooth, and we were ready for our next leg.

In advance of our journey, I had contacted the Train Manager, and he kindly allowed us to travel in First Class, which was a nice touch. The service was bustling, with football fans heading down for the Southampton vs. Leicester City match, as well as West Bromwich Albion supporters en route to their away game against Oxford United. Despite the crowd, everyone had a seat, and as we passed Oxford, the train quietened down significantly.

Due to engineering works on the line, the train was only running as far as Southampton Airport Parkway. Upon arrival, we joined a line of passengers waiting for the replacement bus service. The signage wasn’t clear, but thankfully we ended up in the right queue. Despite the length of the line, the buses arrived efficiently, and after a 15-minute wait, we were on our way to Southampton Central.

Once at Southampton Central, we decided to take a short 13-minute stroll to The Giddy Bridge, a local Wetherspoons pub. The walk was a welcome break from sitting, though I was mindful of my condition and took it slow. The pub was packed with football fans from both Southampton and Leicester, and almost every table was taken. Luckily, we managed to grab a small table nestled between two gambling machines. Liam ordered chicken nuggets with peas and chips, while I opted for a pint of IPA. Despite the crowd, the food and drinks arrived quickly, and we had some time to relax. Liam enjoyed his meal, and I took the chance to unwind before the game. As we sat there, I put on the Liverpool vs. Crystal Palace match on my phone, and we watched the first 30 minutes before heading out.

After a brief 30-minute rest, we made the 20-minute walk to St Mary’s Stadium. Using Google Maps to guide us, we easily found our way. Upon approaching the stadium, we could feel the excitement in the air, with fans buzzing around the various fan zones set up outside. The atmosphere was electric, with Southampton supporters full of anticipation. We made a quick stop at one of the merchandise containers to buy a scarf (£15) and a match program (£4). After that, we spent some time wandering around the outside of the stadium, soaking in the pre-match atmosphere and taking photos. Liam even participated in a couple of free activities in the family zones, which he really enjoyed. It was great to see Southampton offering these kinds of activities to engage young fans.

Once Liam had finished, we headed toward our entrance. After a swift bag check, we were inside the ground. Our seats were fantastic—just three rows up, right next to the corner flag. It felt like we were practically on the pitch! The stadium was buzzing, and the away fans from Leicester were making plenty of noise, adding to the vibrant atmosphere. We settled in and watched the players warm up while listening to the pre-match entertainment, which included a Southampton-themed quiz.

As the players emerged from the tunnel, they were greeted with a standing ovation from the home crowd. The first half was thoroughly entertaining, with Southampton playing some fantastic football and taking a comfortable 2-0 lead into the break. Despite some questionable refereeing decisions, the Saints were clearly the better side. During halftime, Liam dashed off to grab another hot chocolate and record a quick VLOG for our challenge.

The second half saw Leicester come out with renewed energy, and they began to assert themselves more. They managed to pull a goal back in the 64th minute, which shifted the momentum in their favour. Then, in the 74th minute, a VAR decision resulted in a penalty for Leicester and a red card for Southampton after a foul on Jamie Vardy. With the Southampton fans trying to get in his head, Vardy stepped up and coolly slotted the penalty home, leveling the score at 2-2.

Knowing the replacement bus service could be busy, and with a long journey ahead, we made the decision to leave the match in the 80th minute. As we left, I checked my BOLT app and ordered a taxi straight to Southampton Airport Parkway. The fare was £15.50, which seemed steep for a short 4-mile journey, but given my pain, it was the right call to avoid the hassle of the bus. The taxi arrived within five minutes, and we made it to the station comfortably, just in time to catch an earlier train back.

Ironically, just as we were in the taxi, Leicester scored a stoppage-time winner to make it 3-2, which was typical—missing another last-minute goal! Still, getting the taxi meant we avoided the crowd and enjoyed a peaceful ride back. The train was quiet at first, but after we reached Oxford, it became packed with West Brom fans returning from their 1-1 draw against Oxford United. The lively atmosphere on the train lasted until we reached Birmingham New Street, where we caught our final connection back to Sandwell and Dudley, arriving home at 20:45.

Overall, it was a long but memorable day, and despite missing the last goal, we were thrilled to have completed the Premier League grounds as part of our 92 Football League challenge. Now, onto the next adventure!

5 Facts about Southampton FC:

1. Foundation and Origins: Southampton FC was founded in 1885 as “St. Mary’s YMA” by members of St. Mary’s Church of England Young Men’s Association. The club’s nickname, “The Saints,” is a nod to this origin.
2. St Mary’s Stadium: The club moved to its current ground, St Mary’s Stadium, in 2001. It has a capacity of over 32,000 and is located not far from the club’s original home.
3. Historical FA Cup Win: Southampton famously won the FA Cup in 1976, defeating Manchester United 1-0 in a surprise victory, with Bobby Stokes scoring the decisive goal.
4. Academy of Stars: Southampton’s youth academy is renowned for producing world-class talent, including players like Gareth Bale, Alan Shearer, Theo Walcott, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
5. The South Coast Rivalry: Southampton has a fierce rivalry with Portsmouth, known as the “South Coast Derby.” The two clubs have a long-standing competitive history, with matches between them always drawing passionate support from both sets of fans.