The Saints Fanzine – the jinx is over!

With Saints maintaining their fine run of form with another victory, this time in the cup against Shrewsbury yesterday, it is time to reveal that a particularly annoying monkey has been lifted from the magazine's back.

The first league games at which we sold issues one and two of the fanzine were against Plymouth and Rochdale - both ending in fairly disastrous defeats. Some said we were cursed, that we were responsible for the downfall of Alan Pardew, even that we should cease production to give Nigel Adkins a fair go at the helm.

Thankfully, issue 3 sales days have ended in wins over Oldham and the Shrews so the cloud seems to have lifted. Long may it continue, and Saints' march up the table with it!

Visit www.thesaintsfanzine.com for more dets.

COYRs.

Saints 2 - Oldham 1

Saints picked up their third home win on the trot on Saturday, outbattling Oldham in a tightly-fought game. It was pleasing to see Adkins' men fight back after going a goal behind, something they had yet to do this season. Oldham's early goal was the result of some criminal defending on the left side of Saints' defence, but Fonte made amends by heading home the equaliser from Adam Lallana's cross. Despite their at times cagey play, Saints came through thanks to a moment of brilliance from 17-year-old substitute Alex Chamberlain, who was superb when he came on. Adam Lallana was, as ever, superb throughout.

Would also like to point you in the direction of The Saints Fanzine, whose third issue went on sale yesterday. It seems to be going down well with supporters- if you are interested in copy please get in touch.

COYRs.

Win 2 tickets to Saints v Tranmere

For those of you confused by the post below, this should make sense of it. Thanks to Official Football League partners Coral Dugout, we have two tickets to give away to this Saturday's match at home to Tranmere. Just answer the question below and send it, with your name and number, to me at wwainewright@gmail.com by Wednesday to be in with a shout.

Former Saints manager Dave Merrington now works as a pundit on Radio Solent. But where was the big-hearted northerner born?

I won't be giving the game away if I say it's north of Watford. Anyway, entries must be received by midday on Wednesday. Read terms and conditions below or drop a comment if you have any questions. Cheers and good luck!

Competitions: Terms and Conditions

The blog is running its first ever competition this week, in conjunction with the folks at Coral Dugout. Will be posting the details in a moment, but first, for future reference, here are those all-important Ts and Cs...

· The editor's decision is final.
· Red and White Bill employees and their family members of Coral and Southampton FC are not eligible to enter.
· There are no cash alternatives. Prizes are exactly as stated in the competition - travel expenses, accommodation, food, hospitality and merchandise are not included.
· Entrants must be over 18.
· The winning entries are selected at random from all correct entries one week after publication date.
· Entries will be void if they are received after the closing date. We will not take any responsibility for late arrival of these entries.
· Each of the Football League and Coral reserve the right to verify the validity of entries made under this competition and further each reserves the right to disqualify any entry where either the Football League or Coral reasonably believe that the entry has been made unfairly or other than in accordance with these terms and conditions.
· If prizes cannot be posted, Red and White Bill will write to the winners informing them that they have won. Their names and addresses will be supplied to the booking company for contact to be made or to arrange delivery only. Details will not be passed on to any third party, outside of Coral’s agents.
· All competitions are accepted in good faith, if prizes cannot be supplied, as per the copy printed, it remains the responsibility of the booking agent to provide an alternative to the same value or above.
· All tickets are home tickets and therefore you must be a home or neutral supporter to attend the match. Away fans are not permitted in the home end of the Stadium and any individual acting in breach of this requirement may be ejected from the Stadium.
· Entry to the Southampton FC stadium is subject to normal conditions of ticket entry. Winners are subject to screening by the HOME CLUB (“Club…#157;) based on the Club’s conditions of entry and neither the Football League nor Coral shall be liable if the Entrant or any person accompanying the Entrant is refused entry or ejected by the Club, for failing to satisfy the Club’s condition or any other reason.
· If the Entrant or any person accompanying the Entrant is the subject of a current Banning Order under the Football Spectators Act 1989 (as amended) they will be refused entry to the Stadium and their winning entry and tickets will automatically be voided.
· The prize tickets that are issued to the winning Entrant may not be sold or transferred to any third parties.
· Neither the Football League nor Coral shall be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever which is suffered, including but not limited to indirect or consequential loss, or for death or personal injury suffered or sustained by any party as a result of winning and/or using the prize tickets, except for any liability which cannot be excluded by law.
· By entering into this competition, each Entrant acknowledges that he/she is solely responsible for ensuring that he/she and any companion is willing and able to attend the fixture for which his/her prize tickets have been awarded. Neither the Football League nor Coral will be held responsible for any failure on the part of an Entrant to attend the relevant fixture for any reason nor will they be liable at any stage to issue replacement or substitute tickets to any Entrant.
· Each of the Football League and Coral reserve the right to terminate, amend or extend this promotion at any time.

Apologies...

Huge apologies for the lack of posts this season - I should probably explain myself. Launching The Saints Fanzine - which is proving there's life in the ol' dead tree press yet - was to blame at first, but I started at journalism school three weeks ago, which has robbed me of any spare time or social life full stop (some say I didn't have the latter in the first place.)

Anyway, my posting capability will be severely limited for the foreseeable future, for which I apologise. In better news, I have been talking to bookmakers Coral, who will be throwing some Saints tickets our way for competitions - I will post more here shortly. Also, we hope to bring out the third issue of The Saints Fanzine towards the end of October.

Would also just like to point people in the direction of this article about Saints, which appeared on excellent football funnies website The DA after the Colchester game. I met the ingenious creator of the site Craig Woods before the game to give him in the inside track on all things Saints. Incidentally, one of my colleagues at journalism school, Richard Cutcher also writes for the site. Not only is he a top bloke, he was the Derby County mascot who hit the headlines last year for getting in a fight with two Reading players! If you fancy a laugh, please read this.

Answers to the first Saints Fanzine quiz

1) Which northerner managed Saints to FA Cup success in 1976?
Lawrie McMenemy

2) Who was captain on that day?
Peter Rodrigues

3) And who scored the only goal?
Bobby Stokes

4) Name the striker Saints signed from Southend in January (he’s better than Frank Lampard according to some people, too).
Lee Barnard

5) Which notorious former Saints chairman was famed for his ruddy face and (alleged) taste for duck-hunting?
Rupert Lowe

6) Which player, labelled the worst in Premier League history by some, was signed by Graeme Souness in 1997 on the recommendation of someone pretending to be George Weah?
Ali Dia

7) Which famous Saints fan sang ‘Walking Away’ and ‘7 Days.’
Craig David

8) Which big-hearted former Saints manager now earns his crust as a pundit on Radio Solent?
Dave Merrington

9) Name the beanpole former Saints striker who now has to stoop to get under doorways at White Hart Lane.
Peter Crouch

10) Which hardman left back earnt a testimonial at Saints in 1997 after years of service but just one goal?
Francis Benali

11) Who was Player of the Season last year?
Rickie Lambert

12) And in 2008-09?
Kelvin Davies

13) What is the name of Matthew Le Tissier’s autobiography?
Taking Le Tiss

14) Who managed Saints to the FA Cup Final in 2003?
Gordon Strachan

15) And who captained the side on that day in May?
Chris Marsden

16) By what scoreline did Saints beat Carlisle in the JPT Final in March this year?
4-1

17) And can you name the goalscorers?
Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana, Papa Waigo, Antonio

18) To which Italian side did Senegalese international Papa Waigo return after his loan spell at Saints ended this year?
Fiorentina

19) This year sees the side don a strip inspired by the kit worn by the club’s first ever side. In what year was the club formed?
1885

20) Which club did Rupert Lowe label ‘a bunch of North London Yobbos’?
Spurs

Saints update

Apologies for the lack of recent posts, especially given the start of the season and the sad news that rocked the club a few days ago.

Markus Liebherr, the 62-year-old owner of Saints, died last week.

His unexpected passing has provoked a huge response among fans, who have flocked to St Marys to pay their respects to the man who saved the club from extinction in July last year. The club has launched a book of condolence and Saturday's game against MK Dons was postponed.

The reason for the lack of activity is that we are currently busy compiling the next issue of The Saints Fanzine, which of course will be dedicated to the memory of Markus. We welcome all tributes and content ideas for publication.