Time For A Fitting Tribute To Markus Wednesday, 5th Mar 2014 14:29 As we approach the 4th anniversary of a day in which we truly celebrated Southampton Football Club rising again from the flames of adversity, its time we had a more permanent tribute to the man who made it all possible. 28th March 2010 was the day when around 50,000 Saints supporters made their way to Wembley to support their team in the Johnstones Paint Trophy Final with perhaps the happiest man in the stadium being the man who made it all possible, Markus Liebherr. We all realised that this was not the biggest trophy in the game, but it wasn't about the pecking order of the trophy it was about celebrating the fact that the Club was still in existence to actually play at Wembley in the first case. As Saints picked up the trophy there was Markus in the background beaming broadly and taking photos of the day for his own album. That iconic image will remain with Saints supporters for evermore.
Sadly Markus was not to see many more Saints games, within five month's of this triumph he would die, so would never see the team playing in the Premier League as he had hoped he would. The strange thing though is that in the 3 1/2 years since his death there has been no real move from within the club to pay tribute to Markus, a year after his death Nicola Cortese renamed the Ted Bates Trophy the Markus Liebherr cup and although all Saints supporters wanted something in Markus's name, it did not seem right that at the same time we would be airbrushing a man who was truly a Saints legend out of the picture. I say a strange thing because apart from this one little tribute to Markus, Nicola Cortese did not seem to want to acknowledge his name in any real public display of affection, yes there was the Markus Liebherr Lounge in the corporate hospitality area, but this was not something that the everyday Saints supporter would know even existed, indeed even this was shrouded with controversy as it was renamed in Markus's honour after the previous recipient a man who was justly deserving of praise for his contribution to the club was again airbrushed.
So just how could the club honour Markus, I have several thoughts on the matter and feel that perhaps any of them would be fitting and most certainly a lot better than the recognition at the Stadium we have at the moment for a man whose name has been sung at every game since his death. Firstly we could name the ground after him, I would not be in favour of dropping the St Mary's name, feel that this not only keeps our identity as a club but also of where we play, but I would be pleased if it was called The Markus Liebherr St Mary's Stadium, that would be a great way to remember him. Secondly we could name a stand after him, again it could be the Markus Liebherr Chapel stand for instance and it would be great if we also had an image of him marked out in the seats themselves as has been done at other grounds. Thirdly we could erect a statue, it would be great if we did so alongside Ted Bates at the front of the ground. Equally we could do as Blackburn did to their great benefactor Jack Walker and incorporate a statue in a garden of remembrance, we could set aside an area outside the stadium in one of the corners and have not only a statue of Markus, but perhaps a Hall Of Fame wall for all great Saints players to be inducted into, all in a quiet area which could become a focal point for Saints fans to go to remember their own Saints supporting friends and relatives who have passed on and reflect on them. A friend of mine who I spoke to over this suggested that the corner behind the Kingsland/Chapel end would be ideal for this and given that the St Mary's Church spire is clearly visible from here, the birthplace of the club itself, this would be a very apt spot. All of these would be fitting tributes on their own, but there is no reason why we should not incorporate one or more together to start the ball rolling on honouring our history, in the past we have never been great at doing this, in the past few years since Marku's death even less so, perhaps its time that we did so and in doing that gave Markus Liebherr a lasting a fitting memorial to thank him and indeed his family for all they have done for Southampton Football Club. Katharina Liebherr (Pictured Below) is now in charge, perhaps she may feel that it is not right that she instigate a tribute to her Father, that being the case then perhaps we fans should petition the club to do something for Markus, whatever happens over the coming years and this Football Club has been here for 129 years so far and hopefully that and more in the future, yes one man will never be bigger than the club, but throughout it's history there have been individuals who have played a big part in it, Ted Bates was one of those men, Lawrie McMenemy another, not to mention a handful of great players, Markus was one of those men, we the supporters will never forget him, let's make sure future generations don' either.t
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