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Groundbreaking Saints match that changed the game forever
Hospital Broadcasting Association very first radio broadcast from the Dell in October 1952. Leslie Sullivan, chairman of the Toc H branch, pictured commentating (seen in the far left of the Photo) on the match between Saints and Doncaster Rovers. (Image: Southern Daily Echo)
It was a crisp autumn Saturday in Southampton and for countless fans of Saints, the day revolved around one thing – the pilgrimage to the hallowed grounds of The Dell.
The anticipation, the camaraderie, the collective roar of the crowd – it was a ritual, a passion that pulsed through the city's veins.
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But for those confined to the sterile quiet of a hospital ward, the matchday magic felt a world away.
The cheers that echoed across the town before that day were but a faint, melancholic reminder of the community spirit they were missing.
That is, until a groundbreaking initiative brought the heart-pounding thrill of the game directly to their bedsides.
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Kick by glorious kick, and roar by thunderous roar, patients across two of Southampton's major hospitals were, for the first time, enveloped in the electrifying matchday atmosphere of The Dell, cheering on their beloved Saints without ever leaving the confines of their hospital beds.
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This remarkable feat of ingenuity and compassion unfolded 73 years ago, in the golden October of 1952.
It was then that Leslie Sullivan, a man of notable community spirit and the chairman of the charitable organisation Toc-H, settled into his seat amongst the throng at The Dell.
As Southampton prepared to face Doncaster Rovers, Mr. Sullivan wasn't just there as a spectator; he was there to make history. With a microphone in hand, he delivered the very first live radio commentary of a Saints game, his voice destined for the ears of those who needed it most.
This pioneering commentary service, founded by the dedicated members of Toc-H, was a marvel of its time. Transmitted via sturdy landlines, the broadcast was seamlessly relayed through the internal systems of the Royal South Hants and the General hospitals.
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It was a lifeline of entertainment, a "godsend" as one patient aptly described it, for individuals like Ronald May. Tucked up in his bed at the Royal South Hants Hospital, Mr May, a resident of Holland Place in Shirley, was a lifelong, ardent follower of the Saints.
Every weekend had seen him on the terraces until the cruel grip of rheumatism had stolen his ability to make the cherished journey to The Dell.
But on that landmark Saturday in October 1952, Mr May was not alone in his longing.
He was one of hundreds who, though physically absent from the thick of the action, were spiritually transported to the heart of the stadium.
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The match itself, a tense affair that ultimately ended in a hard-fought draw for the Saints, was brought to life.
The quality of the commentary, according to a report in the Daily Echo at the time, was exceptionally high – a sentiment wholeheartedly endorsed by Ronald May himself.
"They were on top of the game all the time," he enthused, a testament to the skill and passion of the commentators. The broadcast was an immersive symphony of sound: the ever-present roar of the crowd, the sharp, isolated shouts of encouragement or playful derision, and the infectious, rising excitement in the commentators' voices during the most hectic and thrilling moments of play.
To deliver this audio experience, patients were provided with individual "pillowphones" – small, innovative speakers ingeniously encased in soft sponge squares. These were comfortable enough for patients to lie on or tuck snugly under their pillows, creating an intimate and personal connection to the game.
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While a few initial murmurs arose about the volume being a touch too faint, these concerns were swiftly and efficiently addressed. Mr J Dobie, the Southampton manager of Rediffusion, the company responsible for the hospitals' internal systems, promised a new amplifier would be installed within a week, ensuring crystal-clear reception for all.
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The Saturday broadcasts, generously subsidised for their first season by the directors of Southampton Football Club, were met with overwhelming enthusiasm from the very first day. Perhaps most delightfully, the service revealed a passionate and previously unheard cohort of female supporters among the patients, who proved to be some of the most enthusiastic listeners.
The historic first broadcast began with a formal introduction from the chairman of the club, Mr J R Sarjantson, who then handed over the momentous matchday commentary duties to Mr Sullivan.
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During the halftime interval, Edith Lady Congleton, chairman of the Southampton Group Hospital Management Committee, expressed her thanks to Toc-H and all the dedicated individuals who had brought the scheme to fruition.
And then, as a final, unique touch, the hospital-bound fans were treated to something even the spectators on the terraces missed out on – a personal and final word of encouragement directly from the Saints' manager himself, George Roughton.
It was a powerful conclusion to a day that had bridged the gap between isolation and community, bringing the beautiful game to those who needed its spirit the most.
