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Saints spotlight
THE DAILY ECHO
SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2009
SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2009
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THE DAILY ECHO
Saints spotlight
COMING UP ...
COMING UP ...
Scott has the Bees buzzing
Out to to rock Robins SAINTS will be hoping to pile more misery on Swindon when they make their first league visit in nearly 16 years on Tuesday night. That came in the 1993/94 season when the Wiltshire side were members of the Premier League for the only season in their history. Though ex-Saints caretaker manager John Gorman won only four league games all season as Town’s boss, one of them was a 2-1 County Ground win against Ian Branfoot’s side. Newly promoted Gillingham thumped Swindon 5-0 in their opening match of the season, to the bewilPAYNTER derment of fans and players alike. The Robins somewhat atoned for the thrashing with an impressive 4-1 victory at fellow League One side MK Dons in the Carling Cup three days later. In somewhat of a local derby, Danny Wilson’s Swindon will be looking for victory. The Swindon boss has turned them into an attacking side that likes to knock the ball about. The Robins have a lot of pace in their side, making them especially dangerous on the counter attack. Simon Cox was Swindon’s top scorer last season with 29 league goals, making him the division’s joint top marksman with new Saints signing Rickie Lambert. Cox was signed by Championship club West Brom for around £1.5m last month. Saints will be roared on by around 2,000 fans on Tuesday.
1920s: Not a replica shirt in sight, but lots of hats. Lots and lots of hats, and moustaches too ...
PRESENT DAY: Many fans wear replica shirts, and there’s hardly any moustaches!
Dedicated followers of fashion THE way people watch football has changed.
1990s: Fans at The Dell in 1991.
THREE TO WATCH Jonathan Douglas – The tough tackling midfielder was signed on a free transfer this summer following his release from Leeds. A player with Premier League experience from his time at Blackburn Rovers, he is the sort of player Town were desperately lacking last season.
1970s: Scarves, scarves and more scarves as Saints fans celebrate at Wembley.
And it is not just how fans watch games, it is how they look doing it, writes SIMON PEACH. Terrace fashion has gone through numerous looks, fads and alterations. From the scarves around the wrist, into the football casual era, before we get to the current day where so many fans adorn replica shirts. And players have had a huge impact too. From Best to Beckham, footballers are role models, not only for their sporting achievement but because they have become the epitome of fashion. Fans in the 30s and 40s would have spluttered with disdain at such a suggestion. Back then they would simply attend matches in smart attire, with their support only indicated by their hat, either a flat cap or trilby. Never would a player’s off-field fashion play a part in their terrace outfit. After the war, and into the 60s, fans got new accessories. Flags and scarves became the norm, and they went into hyper-drive when England won the ’66 World Cup. Rosettes also became popular with those who
1966 AND ALL THAT: Saints fans prepare to travel to Plymouth. had something to shout about. When Saints won the FA Cup in 1976 nearly every man, woman and child wore their ‘winner’ rosette, proudly waving their red and white scarf when welcoming their heroes home.
But when football went into the 80s terrace fashion made its biggest change. It was all about looking cool. Wearing the latest threads became part of football’s culture and, consequently, its history.
But football casual wear had negative stereotypes, due to the hooligan element. Three button high-waisted trousers, staypress trousers, Oxford bags, Doc Martin boots, brogues with the silver tips, they were all the rage with the casuals’ 'look', even though it wouldn’t stand up to much cop now. Another major movement in the 80s was the increase in replica shirts. What started out as fans wearing plain red and white shirts transformed into an advertiser’s dream. What started as a simple sponsor on the front turned into a time where every spare inch of cloth is covered with a sponsor, given the chance. And along with that terrace fashion came the ‘hardcore’ supporter, who would wear every piece of club merchandise they can get their hands on, from socks to rain jackets. Nowadays, fans dress up too, especially on away days, for fun or in hero worship. Donning a fez in honour of Hassan Kachloul, such an example. But after years of change it seems a simple replica shirt is the accepted look. A scarf may sneak in there but, after a lot of change, terrace fashion seems decided.
1976: Rosettes are common as Saints win FA Cup.
1990s: A mixture of styles.
ONES TO WATCH
1960s: Young fans get in the mood for a cup tie
Myles Weston – Some may expect the winger to rue his decision to leave Notts County, now the money – and SvenGoran Eriksson – has rolled into town. Quite the opposite, in fact. The rapid winger marked his Bees league debut with a brace in the 3-1 victory at Carlisle last weekend. Cleveland Taylor – The Jamaican was part of the Carlisle side humiliated by Brentford last weekend. Seven days on and he’s swapped sides. The 25-year-old winger is a key addition to the Bees side and will add more pace, power and energy to the side.
Billy Paynter – As the only fit striker at Swindon, the onus is on him to grab the goals. The big target man – a similar player in many respects to Rickie Lambert – is getting better every season and scored twice at MK Dons in the Carling Cup win last Tuesday. Anthony McNamee – A little box of tricks who is Swindon’s most creative player. On his day the tiny winger can be unstoppable. A real danger to opposing defences.
NEWLY-PROMOTED Brentford should not be under-estimated. The Bees stormed to the League Two championship with a brand of physical, attacking football under manager Andy Scott. And having made some intelligent summer signings, the Bees may prove to have a real sting in the tail this season too. Former £7m striker Carl Cort, winger Myles Weston, and ten other new players are plying their trade at Griffin Park. KABBA If they gel, then Brentford could surprise a few teams this season and maybe, just maybe, make their way into the Championship. Saints last played the west Londoners in the fifth round of the FA Cup in 2004/05. Harry Redknapp’s side let slip a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 at St Mary’s but a Peter Crouch double helped Saints triumph 3-1 in the Griffin Park replay. Brentford, under Martin Allen, finished in the League One play-off zone that season, as they did in 2005/06. But they were relegated in 2006/07 with Scott taking over midway through the next campaign with the Bees in the lower half of League Two. Scott tempted ex-Saint Darren Powell back to Griffin Park towards the end of last season, and he hit the headlines when he was sent off at Bournemouth on Easter Monday for hitting one of his own players! Powell was released at the end of the season.
1990s: Youth hair styles at The Dell in the early 90s.
1960s: Shirt and ties make an appearance.
1960s: Terry Paine is lifted high by fans.
1970s: Whatever happened to the bobble hat?
1960s: The long-lost rattle and home-made banners
Steve Kabba – The experienced striker will be vital to Brentford. A clinical finisher, with experience of playing at a higher level for the likes of Sheffield United and Watford, Brentford’s push up the table will much rely on how he performs.