Total Saints Podcast

After 2-3 weeks of significant stress, emotion and pondering, your TSP Host, Ben Stanfield, is back with a short update on hopes of continuing the Podcast into Season 2020-21 after all. Quite simply, this has been down to the overwhelming support we've received from TSP listeners since originally announcing it would retire at the end of 2019-20.Many of the messages (which are still being received...

3 years ago – complete with clunky opening soundtrack (and, arguably, two even clunkier sounding ‘podcasters’) – Total Saints Podcast was born. 125 episodes later, we’ve achieved 200,000 global listens and enjoyed many laughs, shared many frustrations and argued many disappointments. It’s been some journey! Unfortunately, dear TSP listener, that journey is now at an end. TSP125 ‘The Final Countdow...

Saints 2019-20 Premier League away campaign came to a finish with yet another win! Only this season’s Champions have claimed more points on the road than Saints, who ended with a record top-flight haul of 31 (which includes 9 wins!).But, as ever with our boys in red and white, the game was an emotional roller coaster, as Bournemouth were finally put to bed in the 98th minute – thanks to Ché Adams!...

The current Saints side simply don’t know when they’re beaten – as was proven again up at Old Trafford. Despite trailing for much of the match, Michael Obafemi pounced in the 96th minute to provide more jubilation for the red and white half of Hampshire. TSP123 sees Ben Stanfield (Host) joined by Steve Grant (SaintsWeb), Glen de la Cour (League One Minus 10), Dan Sheldon (Daily Echo) and Simon Pea...

All in all, its been a pretty good week for Saints, with the massive win against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City (which achieved mathematical Premier League safety!) being followed up by a largely excellent showing away to Everton. TSP122 sees regular trio - Ben Stanfield (Host), Steve Grant (SaintsWeb) and Glen de la Cour (League One Minus 10) - catch up swiftly after the Goodison fixture to refl...

Saints secured their Premier League safety with a classy and professional 3-1 win against Watford. It was the Club’s 8th top-flight away win of the season – a Southampton record! Ben Stanfield (Host) is joined by regular TSP contributors – Glen de la Cour (League One Minus 10) and Steve Grant (SaintsWeb) – to bask in the knowledge that another season in England’s premier footballing division await...

Saints kicked off their Project Restart campaign in style, walloping Norwich City 3-0.TSP120 sees Ben Stanfield (Host) joined by regular panelists, Glen de la Cour (League One Minus 10), Steve Grant (SaintsWeb) and Dan Sheldon (Daily Echo), to reflect on all the key talking points from the first game back. Discussion includes Dan’s matchday stadium experience (*spoiler alert - there were LOTS of d...

FOOTBALL. IS. BACK!!Yes, give or take a few days, the English Premier League is returning to the pitch to complete the 2019-20 season. TSP119 sees Ben Stanfield (Host), Glen de la Cour (LeagueOneMinus10), Joe Prince-Wright (NBC Sports) and Dan Sheldon (Daily Echo) get together to chat all things #ProjectRestart. There's also reaction to Ralph Hasenhüttl's new 4 year contract, the stability that br...

“How many? How many?”........*wallop*!!Yes, Neil Heaney was only at Saints for a fairly short period, but he still made quite an impact – not least on Spurs' full-back, Dean Austin! Indeed TSP Host, Ben Stanfield, still rates Neil as one of the players he most enjoyed watching during the mid-90s. Having started life at Arsenal, under the stewardship of George Graham, he moved to The Dell in 1994,...

This week we're proud to be in the company of Saints 2019-20 Player of the Season (OK.....we've jumped the gun a bit there!), Danny Ings. Having grown up in the same village as TSP Host Ben Stanfield, Danny takes some time to chat about life at Netley Rec, his personal reflections on the season, scoring/knee-sliding at Fratton Park (in the 4-0 South Coast demolition vs Pompey!) and Project Restart...

TSP116 - The Dell Years19 years ago this week, Southampton's beloved old football stadium closed its doors for the final time. Having hosted the last ever competitive match (vs Arsenal on 19th May 2001), and the last EVER match (vs Brighton on 26th May 2001), it saw 103 years of dedicated service come to an end. To celebrate one of England's famous old football stadiums, TSP116 sees Ben Stanfield...

There's still no Premier League action, but Total Saints Podcast is doing its best to keep busy! In this episode we catch up with two big Saints fans, both undertaking some writing in their spare time. Firstly, we head to sunny Gran Canaria to speak with Paul Gilliam. Paul has followed Saints since the 1970s, worked as a Steward at The Dell and now pens Las Palmas FC match reports for The Canary N...

Over the past 40 years, Dave Merrington has spent many hours coaching Southampton FC youth team players, managing Saints in the Premier League and summarising on Radio Solent. TSP114 sees Ben Stanfield (TSP Host) and Will Dawe (Saints Archive) catch up with this 'Saint', chatting through his numerous stories and memories. Whether it be working with young Matt Le Tissier's and Alan Shearer's, battl...

No-one has ever played more games for Southampton FC (over 800) than Terry Paine, and only 3 players in history have scored more goals for the Club (over 180) - he is quite simply a footballing legend. Add to that an MBE, the Honorary President position at Saints and being a member of the famous 1966 World Cup winning England squad and it’s quite some CV!TSP113 sees Ben Stanfield (TSP Host) and Wi...

This episode sees TSP undertake Part 2 of their Saints Squad Assessment - focussing on midfield and attack (TSP109 for Part 1 – GK and defence).Ben Stanfield (Host) is joined by the same merry band – regular panellist Glen de la Cour (League One Minus 10 Blog), Freddie Hunt (The Ugly Inside) and Simon Peach (Press Association).TSP112 discusses what may happen to Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg this summer,...

Total Saints Podcast is back with another 'Lockdown Pod', as former 90's midfielder Neil Maddison joins us for Total Recall. Neil talks about his memories of initially signing for Saints as a schoolboy, keeping Alan Shearer company on the long train rides down to the South Coast, working with Dave Merrington, making his first-team debut - against Vinnie Jones and the Crazy Gang! - before eventuall...

On this episode of TSP 'Total Recall', we proudly welcome two-time Saints Player of the Season, James Beattie - in partnership with SaintsWorld (www.saintsworld.co.uk).'Beatts' talks about life in and around The Dell and St. Mary's, through the late 90's and early-to-mid 00's. Conversation with Ben Stanfield (TSP Host) covers his early career at Blackburn, moving to Saints - and the part Dave Jone...

The latest edition of Total Saints Podcast sees us undertake our first 'squad assessment'.Ben Stanfield (Host) is joined by Glen de la Cour (League One Minus 10 Blog), Freddie Hunt (The Ugly Inside) and Simon Peach (Press Association) to chat about the strengths and weaknesses in the current Saints squad. In Part One (of 2) we focus on ‘the wrong end of the pitch’ - goalkeeping and defence! Is Ale...

TSP108 sees us head all the way back to the late 1960s/early 1970s as, thanks to Saints Archive, Eric Martin drops in for our latest Total Recall. Alongside Ben Stanfield (TSP Host) and Leon Burton (Saints Archive), Eric chats about his early career at Dunfermline Athletic, sharing a changing room with Sir Alex Ferguson, first meeting Ted Bates, signing on at The Dell, life alongside Mick Channon,...

With Saints still self-isolating off the pitch currently, its enabled Total Saints Podcast / Saints Archive to catch up on some great Total Recall’s! In this latest episode, Adam Blackmore (BBC Radio Solent Sports Editor) joins TSP for an exclusive chat. Adam discusses his move to Radio Solent in 2004, the digital generation, what responsibility he feels in reporting on all things Saints, working...

The world is currently in a state of Coronavirus-shock, but that doesn’t stop the self-isolating Total Saints Podcast panel from keeping you entertained! With no active football to talk about (well, other than Southampton FC’s excellent ‘Tic Tac Toe’ point against Manchester City!), TSP106 sees Ben Stanfield (Host), Steve Grant (SaintsWeb) and Glen de la Cour (League One Minus 10 Blog) chat about...

Every loyal fan knows that Saints never do things the easy way - and so it’s proving again this season! Having rapidly got themselves to 31 points, the loss versus Newcastle United now makes it 4 Premier League defeats in 5 for Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side. Indeed the 'roller coaster' is in full flow once more! Reflecting on yet another disappointing result at St. Mary’s are Ben Stanfield (Host), Steve...

Matthew Le Tissier is arguably the greatest footballer to ever play for Saints. The legendary number 7 was renowned for scoring wonderful goals, thrilling crowds and being instrumental in helping the Club regularly survive in the Premier League. TSP therefore considers itself incredibly lucky to welcome ‘Le God’ on this episode, as he joins Will Dawe (Saints Archive) and Ben Stanfield (Host) for t...

While having the potential to be a tricky fixture on paper, this weekend saw good (the Saints) overcome evil (the Villans) with relative ease. Yes, Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Southampton side swarmed all over Aston Villa from the start, coming away with a vital 3 Premier League points. Regular TSP panel, Ben Stanfield, Steve Grant (SaintsWeb), Glen de la Cour (League One Minus 10) and Lucy Highnett, chat...

There's no winter break for TSP......who cast aside any sun cream, plane tickets and foreign money to instead reflect on the past week in and around St. Mary's. Ben Stanfield (Host), Lucy Highnett and Glen de la Cour look back on Saints frustrating FA Cup exit vs Spurs, before previewing the next Premier League fixture, against Burnley. Will Dawe (Saints Archive) also drops in, as TSP102 sees our...