Fans bid farewell to blue bridge lights 'mockery'

Football fans are celebrating a possible end to the sight of blue bridge lights that they say caused years of mockery by rival supporters.

Itchen Bridge is lit up at night with blue stanchions near St Mary's Stadium, where Southampton FC play in red.

Saints fan Perry McMillan previously campaigned for a colour change, complaining that blue was the colour of neighbours Portsmouth FC.

Southampton City Council said it had given the go-ahead to an adaptable lighting scheme as part of the current bridge refurbishment.

In a statement, council leader Alex Winning said the new flexible lighting would enable the bridge to "mark key moments".

He added: "It would be great to light the bridge up red and white on match days, or red, white and blue on days of national celebration."

McMillan originally took his campaign to Southampton's Court Leet - a historical decision-making body - in 2023.

His application read: "Hundreds of Southampton supporters travel across the bridge on foot or vehicles and have had a decade of mockery from Portsmouth supporters!"

The same meeting heard and dismissed a move to rename the bridge after Lawrie McMenemy, a celebrated former Saints manager.

Reacting to the lights announcement, McMillan said he was "over the moon" and had received "great feedback from Saints fans, so happy days".

Councillor Andy Frampton, who supported the taxi driver's campaign, said it was possible that the lights would be finished in time to mark the 50th anniversary of Southampton's FA Cup victory over Manchester United on 1 May.

Second Division Southampton, led by McMenemy, wore a blue and yellow kit that day, beating the First Division side 1-0.

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