Why ex-Saints FC star Andy Townsend snubs his former club

His incisive commentary and forthright views have become a familiar soundtrack to the beautiful game. 

Yet, beneath the veneer of the seasoned analyst lies a playing career frequently recalled for its prominent spells at Chelsea, the claret and blue of Aston Villa, and the passionate terraces of Middlesbrough. 

However, a curious veil seems to be drawn over the very club that plucked him from the relative obscurity of part-time football and thrust him onto the grand stage — Southampton.

 Indeed, the circumstances surrounding his eventual departure from The Dell remain a tale tinged with a sense of what might have been, and for some, a lingering taste of betrayal.

Dave Bugden who made a big success of running his eight-table Chalkies Club at Locks Heath, added a bigger string to his bow in January 1986 when Chalkies at Eastleigh was opened by professional Willie Thorne. He then planned to open another 12 table centre in Marchwood within just a couple of months. Dave Bugden brought snooker into the lives of many around the Southampton area. This picture shows aints defender Andy Townsend and snooker pro Willie Thorne. January 23, 1986. (Image: Echo)

It was the astute eye of the legendary Lawrie McMenemy, in one of his final acts of recruitment for the Saints in January 1985, that spotted the raw potential in a young Townsend. 

A modest sum of £35,000 was exchanged with Weymouth, a fee that would prove to be a remarkable bargain, to entice the aspiring midfielder away from a dual existence juggling the rigours of non-league football with the daily grind of a computer operator. This was Townsend's golden ticket, an invitation to dedicate himself fully to the professional ranks.

Thrust into the limelight, he made his debut for Southampton in the unfamiliar territory of left-back. 

Despite being out of his natural midfield element, the young Townsend displayed an immediate composure and adaptability that hinted at a promising future. 

He didn't just fill a gap, he looked comfortable, assured, every bit the prospect McMenemy had wagered on.

The subsequent 1985/86 season saw him further showcase his versatility. 

Often deployed as a valuable utility man, Townsend readily stepped in to cover for Mark Dennis at left-back or Nick Holmes in the engine room of midfield. 

His willingness to adapt and perform across different positions underscored his commitment and footballing intelligence. Many seasoned observers and hopeful fans alike earmarked the 1986/87 campaign as the one where this burgeoning talent would truly blossom and cement a regular starting berth.

However, the unpredictable hand of fate delivered a cruel blow. 

During a pre-season friendly, in an almost poetic, yet tragic, twist of irony, Townsend found himself back at his old stomping ground, Weymouth. 

It was there that his upward trajectory was brutally halted. A sickening crack, audible across the ground, signified a broken leg – a devastating injury for any player, let alone one on the cusp of a major breakthrough.

Though he battled back with characteristic determination to feature later that season, it was the 1987/88 campaign that witnessed the full flourishing of Andy Townsend at Southampton.

 He became a virtual ever-present, finally making the central midfield position his own. 

His commanding performances, tenacity in the tackle, and driving runs from midfield made him a vital cog in a youthful Saints side. 

With a squad brimming with up-and-coming youngsters, an air of palpable optimism enveloped The Dell. The faithful supporters, starved for success, looked ahead with genuine excitement, believing this group could usher in a new era of glory.

But as swiftly as those optimistic illusions had been painted, they were to be cruelly shattered. 

Saints v Derby November 28, 1987. Wide men Andy Townsend and Nigel Callaghan in a contest for supremacy out on the left wing (Image: Echo)

Whispers began to circulate – Townsend, now a prized asset, was attracting admiring glances from other clubs. 

The bright lights of London beckoned, with both Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur reportedly keen on securing his signature. In some respects, had he chosen a move to either of these established top-flight entities, many Saints supporters, whilst undoubtedly sad to see him go, might have wished him well, acknowledging a natural progression.

However, the reality of Townsend's subsequent actions left a bitter taste. He didn't just express a desire to leave; he demanded a move. And the destination? Not the glamour of the capital, but, to the bewilderment of many, Norwich City. 

For the devoted Southampton fanbase, who had nurtured him from a raw part-timer to an accomplished Football League midfielder, this felt like a sideways, if not financially motivated, step. 

His stint at Carrow Road proved to be a stepping stone, as he did indeed soon find his way to Chelsea. 

Yet, the manner of his departure from Southampton was not easily forgotten. Whenever he returned to The Dell donning the colours of his future clubs, the reception he received was often lukewarm at best, a stark contrast to the adulation he had once commanded.

Perhaps most telling is Townsend's own apparent reluctance to reminisce about the club that provided his crucial launchpad into the professional game. 

In countless interviews and discussions about his past glories and the foundations of his successful career, the pivotal chapter written in the red and white stripes of Southampton often seems to be a footnote, if mentioned at all. 

One can only speculate whether a lingering discomfort about the circumstances of his exit, the shattered optimism, and the sense of what could have been, still colours his recollections of the club that gave him his big break.