SAINTS are aiming to revive the ‘spirit of St Mary’s’ by getting fans packed into the Northam stand once more.

It has been a sign of the sorry times at Saints that the St Mary’s atmosphere has dissipated with the closing of the corners of the ground last summer.

But, with more fans returning to support the team, the club’s new management have decided to reopen the popular corner between the Kingsland and Northam stand – once the home of Saints’ most vocal supporters.

The hope is that a wall of noise will be revived behind the goal at the Northam end and help return the glory days to Saints.

The move is being backed by club captain Kelvin Davis, one of the few players in the Saints squad to have experienced the St Mary’s roar as it once was.

He said: “In a few games this season we have had more away fans than home in the Northam, so hopefully our supporters will fill that end, give us a great visual and vocal boost and help suck the ball into the back of the net.

“We all know how big a role the fans play on a match day and our fans are some of the best in the country.

“It’s an old cliché but supporters really can be the 12th man. I remember playing in front of a full house for the Sheffield United game a few seasons ago, and the support that day was phenomenal.

“We saw how effective it can be by having all the vocal fans in one place up at Carlisle last week, and packing the most vocal fans into one dedicated area of the stadium when we are at home will give all the players that extra boost.

“You see it at clubs like Liverpool and Manchester United, where all their vocal fans congregate in one stand and create a fantastic atmosphere, so it makes sense.”

The small print of the move is that, as of today’s clash with Gillingham, Saints will stop selling match day tickets in blocks four and five of the Itchen stand with blocks 36-39 of the Northam reopened.

Supporters who previously occupied blocks four and five are being encouraged to make the end behind the goal their own, in order to give Saints even greater support throughout the 90 minutes at St Mary’s.

Only season ticket holders will remain in blocks four and five of the Itchen, whilst the opening of the Northam will begin from block 39 and open up block by block towards the Kingsland stand on demand.

Season ticket holders who currently occupy blocks four and five are welcome to transfer to blocks 36-39 free of charge, as are supporters who previously occupied the now reopened section.

Season ticket holders wishing to move are advised to visit the ticket office in person to arrange for the switch.