VERY often when I am talking to long-time supporters, the same names crop up with some of the famous players who they had seen at The Dell.

I have said many times I only got them at the end of their careers when I could afford them but one of their names has cropped up again recently.

Jimmy Ball, son of the late Alan, is obviously still in the area – as are his sisters I believe – and has become the new manager of AFC Totton.

The problem with being related to any superstar, like Alan, is can you compare on the pitch?

Jimmy would be the first one to admit, while he joined us at The Dell with the youth players, he never quite made it – but went into coaching early on.

I remember him signing up for local clubs but I’d certainly not heard about him for quite a while until he has popped up again in our area now at AFC Totton.

I am pleased for him, because Totton is a well-organised club with an excellent pitch and ground.

They are well supported with a good board and I will certainly be looking to see if his results can be as good when he is on the bench, as his dad’s were on the pitch.

Obviously, there are no Premier League games this weekend to talk about because it is the international break.

But there will definitely still be an interest for Saints’ supporters because an array of Ralph Hasenhuttl’s players have been called up by their countries.

The interesting one to have been called into the England senior squad for the first time is Kyle Walker-Peters.

Getting the call from Gareth Southgate – whether he gets in the team to start with or not – the experience of being with the international squad for a number of days will give him a big lift.

Of course, it also gives Gareth and his staff an opportunity – even if Kyle and some of the others just get on the bench in these games against Switzerland and Ivory Coast.

It gives them a chance to see what sort of characters players are in the dressing room and during the training sessions. It’s not just the minutes on the pitch players are judged on.

Whether Kyle or any of the others get on the pitch, it still gives them international recognition when people say their name from now on.

Kyle should also thank Ralph and the rest of Saints staff for getting him to that level – the rest will be down to him now.

But I always think an international call-up gives a player an extra bit of effort and passion, because they want to be looking forward to squads being named in the future – for instance the World Cup finals.

That is the dream for all youngsters.