FA Cup hero Steele shown the door at St Mary's (From Daily Echo)

Saints' FA Cup winner Jim Steele turned away from St Mary's Stadium

6:00am Sunday 27th January 2013 in Saints News

SAINTS legend Jim Steele has revealed he was asked to leave the Dell Sports Bar at St Mary’s earlier this season.

Steele, man of the match when Saints won the 1976 FA Cup final, was ejected from the cafe shortly after moving back to the area in September.

The 62 year-old said: “I’d heard all the things about Le Tissier and Cortese and this and that so when I bought two tickets for the Aston Villa game soon after moving down, I gave my name as ‘James Steele’.

“I was hardly going to say ‘Jim Steele’ even though the girl at the ticket office was only young and wouldn’t have known who I was.

“But the guy behind her said ‘I thought it was you Steeley!’ I said ‘don’t say anything, I might not get a ticket!’ “I don’t totally disagree with what’s been going on, so I bought two tickets thinking one of the ex-Saints would show up sooner or later.

“I went on to the supporters’ club below the stand and two or three came over to shake my hand and say it was great to see me back in town.

“Then this young kid came over and said ‘are you a member sir’? I said ‘no I’m an ex-Saint’ and he said ‘sorry you’re not allowed in, this is a supporters’ club’.

“I don’t blame Cortese for making us buy tickets but to not be allowed in the supporters club...! It wasn’t as if I wanted a free drink or anything!

“I love Saints but this sort of thing doesn’t happen at any other top club. It doesn’t make sense.

“After being thrown out I wasn’t even going to go to the game, but the pub round the corner made me feel so welcome. “I went with one of them in the end and it was a great win. I’ve been to every game since.”

Saints declined to comment.

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