Fans create Saints' shrine at work (From Daily Echo)

Fans create Saints' shrine at work in honour of team's promotion to Premier League

10:38am Friday 11th May 2012 in Southampton By Melanie Adams, Health Reporter

Buy this photo » Andy Price, Barry Clement, Daren Nobbs and Barry Bennett.

THEY are loyal members of Nigel Adkins’ red and white army who are on a mission to transform their office into a shrine to their beloved Saints.

Armed with paint brushes and rollers staff at CPN Construction Services in Southampton are keeping the promotion party going by decorating their whole office with red and white stripes.

At first staff were shocked to walk in yesterday morning to see that a painter had been drafted in to kickstart the makeover, but by the end of the day they were all joining in, singing a few chants.

Life-long Saints fan and director of the company, Barry Clement, took the executive decision to surprise his staff with the transformation after dreaming up the idea at the end of the season.

Once complete, the walls will then be decked with an array of Southampton Football Club memorabilia, including Barry’s 1976 FA Cup final ticket, a signed Saints shirt and a photograph of Markus Liebherr.

He told the Daily Echo: “I decided as a tribute to the team and their achievements over the last two seasons, and to Markus Liebherr, to decorate the office. Once the painting is finished the walls will be adorned with my own personal memorabilia.

“We are long-term Saints fans and season ticket holders so this is our way of getting behind the team.

“It will stay like this until we get a top six finish in the league and then we will decide to do something else.

“The achievements of the club have been tremendous this year, what more can you ask for?”

The red and white transformation comes just a few weeks after the landlords of the Lord Nelson, in Hythe, decided to splash Saints’ red and white colours on the front of their pub ahead of the team’s promotion to the Premier League.

The construction firm, based on Millbrook Road West, boasts Matt Le Tissier as a friend and a few ex-Saints stars as loyal customers, including David Peach and David Armstrong, and the staff can’t wait to see their reaction.

Daren Nobbs, Barry’s son-in-law who works at CPN, said: “I was shocked to walk in and find the walls behind my desk red and white but I am extremely pleased.

“At first I thought he was pulling my leg but knowing his passion for football and Saints, I am not that surprised that he called our bluff.

“It is absolutely fantastic and we all feel very patriotic towards the club.”