As I stated on Monday, my plea to rename the Itchen Bridge to honor former Saints manager Lawrie McMenemy was accepted at the Court Leet meeting in Southampton Civic Centre yesterday.
It took some time, but this website was the first to suggest, about 20 years ago, that a statue of Ted Bates would be a suitable tribute to the man who, in actuality, laid the groundwork for Southampton Football Club.
It is disheartening that two decades later, our football club still hasn’t done enough to honor the man who laid those cornerstones and brought us the FA Cup, so I decided to ask the historic Court Leet to rename the Itchen Bridge, as I announced on Monday.
I brought that to Court Leet yesterday, and it was agreed that this was something the entire Southampton City Council could now debate.
As I read the “Presentation” requesting that the Itchen Bridge’s name be changed to The Lawrie McMenemy Bridge or The Lawrie McMenemy Itchen Bridge, I noticed that the atmosphere in the room was upbeat.
It was encouraging to note that Lawrie was quoted by The Daily Echo in their coverage of this.
It comes as a big surprise. It’s incredibly considerate of the fan, especially if he’s a die-hard Saints devotee.
“I’m just happy that people remember the final; as long as people remember the final, they don’t need to rename the bridge after me!
It’s wonderful to have had a positive impact on the people in the city that is dear to my heart. I managed the club for a very long time and remained connected with it for many years after that.
Francis Benali, a man who was born and raised in Soto and is undoubtedly another person who fully merits the moniker “Club Legend,” said the following:
“With such a significant monument in our community, it would be a suitable homage as we approach the significant anniversary of our lone FA Cup victory.
“Lawrie signed me as a youngster and spoke to my mother outside our Southampton home, telling her that the club would be the perfect location for me—not that I needed much persuading!
It’s the simple things and his consideration for others that also make a significant difference.
Now that the first obstacle has been overcome, the next one is having this approved by the City Council. You would hope that all political parties would be united in wanting to honor Lawrie in this way and that this would not turn into a political football.
There are antecedents. In 1980, Lord Louis Mountbatten’s name was given to Mountbatten Way, a main road leading into the city from the west. A few years later, in 1989, Thomas Lewis Way led into the city from the north.
Most people are unaware that Thomas Lewis was born in St. Mary’s, not far from our current stadium, in 1873 and rose to prominence in the trade unions in the then-town of Southampton, eventually serving as a Labour MP from 1929–1931 and then from 1945–50 before retiring. Lord Louis Mountbatten had close ties to the City and resided at Broadlands in Romsey.
Therefore, if the main routes into the city from the West and North may be named, so can the routes into St. Mary’s from the East and across the river from the Lawrie McMenemy Bridge.
I’m hoping that most, if not all, Southampton fans will support this. Those who may be hesitant because they believe he left the team in disgrace in 1985 to manage Sunderland, however, should realize that this is now history and that his contributions to Southampton Football Club and the City of Southampton before and after that time merit recognition.
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