Saint of Sichuan

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Posts posted by Saint of Sichuan

  2. 14,000 +

    in Saints Chat

    Posted

    The way this topic started certainly seemed negative to me. I'm a 42 year old who moved to Perth when I was 4 and left when I was 15 (not thro choice, my Dad was in the Prison Service) and have only been back to the town a handful of times- last time was approx 2001. I don't know anyone there anymore. I've moved around Scotland and Engerland quite a bit, and haven't seen many Saints games in that time. Shame on me I guess. I know I could have made more of an effort to see them but life gets in the way. I had the BEST childhood growing up in Perth (Craigie Primary and Perth High), up Kinnoull Hill (my Dad said it was Sinbad's Castle up there), swimming off Moncrieff island, catching sticklebacks in Craigie Burn, footy on the North Inch, Boys Brigade (was it St Matthews Church?), swimming in the Earn, and of course going to Muirton Park (and yes kids we did used to get in by being lifted over the turnstile by strangers who said that they were our Dads). I guess when I think about my support of the Saints it's intertwined with my whole time there and a throwback to the great times I had. I live in Coventry now and I'm proud to follow the Saints, even when most people who ask who I support expect I follow either Rangers or Celtic, and when I say St Johnstone they go "who?" and "where are they from?". The last time I knowingly met another Saints fan was about 1997. If I lived in Perth or within a decent distance then I have no doubt I'd have a season ticket, but I don't. I can honestly say that if there was a real shortage of tickets for regular match going fans then I wouldn't go, but how often is McD anywhere near full? That's not a criticism by the way- I love the fact that people give their lives to love and support to the club, I'm proud of you I really am. I'm going to Celtic Park with my Engerlish wife (who is so excited) and will savour every minute, I'll probably fill up when the team come out onto the pitch and cry like a baby if they win. If some people get sniffy about where most of the crowd has come from then they'll be in the minority.

    Great post mate - I can really relate to your story.

     

    Although Im a bit younger I left Scotland (Edinburgh) when I was 18 and havent been 'resident' since - roughly ten years. I grew up going to watch games with my Dad (whos thrae Perth - followed Saints for over half a Century) and brothers both home (STs) and away. The drive up to Perth from Edinburgh was all just part of going to see Saints. I have vague memories of going to watch Saints for the first time when I was five years old against Forfar (we won 4 or 5 nil) and immediately declared my love for the club - typical glory hunter behaviour! :wink:

     

    I now live/work in China so getting to games is a bit of a mission but every bit worth the effort. I made it to the game against Eski in Turkey and will be heading back for the final on the 17th. It was an easy decision as the second we beat Aberdeen in the Semi I knew I had to be back for it - it was more the logistical side that was the problem!

     

    If I was still living in Scotland I would have a season ticket and go every week but instead I have to settle for my local team Guangzhou R&F (there are some similarities... blue/white, considered a 'diddy' club... although they certainly dont exist within their means! FIFA financial fair play would have a field trip in China...) who I go to see most weeks for my fix of live football. But goes without saying I would much rather be at McDiarmid Park freezing my baws off watching Dave Mackay n co on a blistery winters night!!

     

    Thanks to the original poster for starting this thread - although your original point backfired you have successfully managed to stir the emotions! Hopefully those emotions will be channelled into one huge bubble of positive energy come 14:55 on 17 May!!!

     

    COYS!!!

  6. #01 - 19/07/12 - Eskişehirspor 2-0 Saints - Europa League

    in Match Archive 2012/13

    Posted

    I have been thinking like you after seeing the friendship among all fans in Bars street.

    For most of the cases the sister cities has not got more common than this event.

    As part of the sister city arrangement the two teams could play each other in a friendly every few (3-4) years.

    You could even introduce a cup for the winner of each game would keep hold of in order to create a sense of competition...

  7. #01 - 19/07/12 - Eskişehirspor 2-0 Saints - Europa League

    in Match Archive 2012/13

    Posted

    I know, everything is too sanitised in most places nowadays. McD when it oppened was great but the crowds were bigger then. Probably get told to sit down over the last 15 years. :) Turkey takes a better attitude to the matchday experience.

    Its as simple as: bring back the match day experience = bring back the fans.

    Wish I could be going to the game in Perth on Thursday. Sadly, I've got to be in Guangzhou so won't be able to return the immense hospitality shown by our Esk compadres.

    Es Es Es, Ki Ki Ki, Eski Eski Eski!

    Perth - Eskisehir sister cities? :wink:

  10. An open letter to St Johnstone Chairman Steve Brown

    in Saints Chat

    Posted

    Would it be safe to assume that if the vote goes the way it morally should, messrs Doncaster and Regan (and a few notable others) will resign on the spot?

    If not, why not?

    Alternatively, I suggest they should be suspended. Ideally from a large crane...

    Totally agree. After making such a huge mess of things surely there can only be one outcome.

  11. Attire in Turkey

    in Saints Chat

    Posted

    i guarentee that it will be very comfortable for you guys to visit eskisehir, and there is no danger; believe me. the majortiy will be glad for your visit and wait you to exchange scarf. and i am sure that there is no danger for anyone in eskisehir except a few turkish teams. so do not take into account such fanatic expressions. there is no need to think about them.

    here is the real esas fan waiting for you:

    http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS8lQ9cpvomkzKy1h-9gY9ENMDyDumob0PHjk41F1UbvmV9hWgLPgHFLe6R-A

    http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQmaO9fsBzxgWefXDq7S6IXQvI4xx3UoIEud-Kx0e6KSrNGN_POVeWDI75i

    http://www.365gunspor.com/resimler/habergorsel/eses_tribunsov.jpg

    http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vMjTCg_mad4/SuNvbhwliZI/AAAAAAAAH9w/LafVSdxyu_w/s400/eses.jpg

    http://felsefesis.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/koreofoto2.jpg

    I hope you are planning to do a display like in these pictures for our visit :shock:

  14. Next seasons kit

    in Saints Chat

    Posted

    Sue I saw before that the club gets all the kit free, for all the squads. May be wrong but Iam sure Geoff said that once when someone asked about adidas and kits that some teams get.

    Cheers Mainstand - do you know any details of the retail side? It would be interesting to know what share of sales from replica shirts/training kit etc made its way back to the club.

  15. Next seasons kit

    in Saints Chat

    Posted

    Going by that pic it looks cheap and shite. St Mirren's on the other hand is absolutely glorious. As is Partick Thistle's away kit. Fed up of just having rubbish template kits. I wish we had a small manufacturer who actually made us more personalised kits.

    Any idea what sort of arrangement Saints have in place with Joma?

  17. The Big Turkey Travel Thread

    in Saints Chat

    Posted

    I lived and worked in Turkey (South East Anatolia) in my days as an Oil and Gas man. Been on holidays to Istanbul, Ankara, Izmit, Izmir, Kas, Kalkan, Antalya, Bodrum/Gumbet, Antalya, Kusadasi, Marmaris, Pamukkale, Olu Deniz.

    When working I was based in Diyarbakir, and our prospects were in places like Mardin, Midyat, Cizre, Batman. That was a really wild frontier in those days and quite exciting. Rather than take the spare dynamite back to the store after the day's shooting we'd chuck it in the river Tigris and scoop up some fresh fish (called bollocks in Turkey, not joking). Once we got a Nile Perch about 120lbs and nearly drowned wrestling it out of the water.

    There is one constant thing about everywhere I've been in Turkey - the warmth and friendliness of the local people. They all reach out to you and if holidaying will go an extra mile to make your trip special. I've been taken into peoples homes and served local food, drunk tea in black tents with nomad goat herders, eaten salty cheese from a handkerchief with shepherds I've met in the middle of nowhere, and drunk myself sober on Efes and Raki while playing guitar in one of the most raucous boozers you'll ever experience.

    All of that keeps me coming back time and again. The few Turkish phrases I picked up are slowly coming back into memory and I am really looking forward to the trip to Eskisehir (where I've never been).

    The Turks are great people and that's what it's all about.

    Sounds great babychunder (what a name!) - I've heard similar things from friends who have been to the region and cant wait to experience it for myself.

  18. The Big Turkey Travel Thread

    in Saints Chat

    Posted

    I (like everybody) have no idea who or where we are playing :confused:

    The club have no idea about ticketing (not their fault) :confused:

    but I thought b*ll*cks so I've just booked a week in Istanbul with the OH and will play it by ear on what happens next - are there any other Saintees in the same position? - meet up etc..................

    PS - Thanks to all the Turkish lads who have been on the site with valuable info.

    Same here mate. Im flying into Istanbul on the 18th from Hong Kong and my Dad from Edinburgh (via Shipol) - from there we'll head to where ever Uefa decide we need to be!

    Really pleased we were drawn against a Turkish side - the atmosphere at the games over there looks immense.