Andrew Surman has not been back to Southampton since leaving for Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2009 with the Saints relegated to League One and deep in financial trouble, but he will return to St Mary’s as a Bournemouth midfielder on Sunday looking to get one over the team he grew up supporting.
Surman stood on the terraces idolising Matt Le Tissier from the age of nine having moved from South Africa and admits his family, all lifelong Saints fans, will be torn when the teams meet, with some in the home end and others in the away section.
“I’m really looking forward to it – I’ve not been back since I left,” the 29-year-old said. “The club played a massive part in my career, they gave me my chance and I owe them a lot. It will be a great occasion. My family are lifelong Saints fans but I hope they’re supporting me.”
He describes Southampton’s rise from the third tier to qualifying for the Europa League last season as “incredible” although only Kelvin Davis remains from the playing squad at a time when players were worried about being paid.
“You could feel the negativity around the place,” Surman said. “As much as you want to concentrate on the games, it filtered through to the players and staff. Fair play to everyone who stuck behind the club in the darker days – they have been rewarded now. When things weren’t going well, rumours about not being paid affected morale. They are not the only club to be through that but being relegated gave them an opportunity to bring in new owners, new ideas and give structure to the club.
“At the time I left there were times worrying about paying the players – maybe getting relegated was the best thing that happened to the club because League One gave them the opportunity to clear out and start again.”
Surman did not travel to Bournemouth’s Capital One Cup defeat at Liverpool on Wednesday but believes there were definite encouraging signs after conceding 10 goals in two league games against Tottenham and Manchester City. “I thought it was a good performance and we were unlucky to go 1-0 down. The players that came in did really well and we showed have the strength in depth to do well.”
He also insists confidence remains high despite the pair of heavy defeats that sees Eddie Howe’s loitering two points above the relegation places. They could be second from bottom depending on results elsewhere by the time they kick-off at St Mary’s. “It’s ruthless, so unforgiving. If you give teams chances they’ll take them straight away.”
