Southampton fans fight to change blue lights on a bridge close to St Mary’s – as they are the colour of bitter rivals Portsmouth!

• Southampton fans are campaining to change the lights on the Itchen Bridge
• The bridge is close to St.Mary’s and currently has blue LED lights
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A Southampton fan is attempting to change the lights on a bridge near St.Mary’s Stadium so it no longer reminds them of their most hated rivals. 

The lights on the Itchen Bridge are currently blue, the primary colour of the Saints’ south coast rivals Portsmouth. 

Blue LED lights have been in place since 2011, but some Southampton supporters are now demanding a change.

The colour was originally chosen for safety purposes, with the Southampton City Council saying that red lights would cause problems for air pilots and mariners. 

But that has not stopped local taxi driver and Southampton fan Perry McMillan from trying to get them changed to his team’s colours.

The lights on the Itchen Bridge near Southampton’s St.Mary’s Stadium currently light up in Portsmouth blue

The rivalry between Southampton and Portsmouth is one of the most hotly-contested in English football

He told the Southern Daily Echo: ‘I was born and bred in Southampton and it’s hard to believe that the lights on the Itchen Bridge are blue, instead of red and white.

‘Hundreds of Southampton supporters travel across the bridge on foot, bike, and bus and have had a decade of mockery from Portsmouth supporters.’

Mr McMillan is set to give a presentation on the issue to the local council on October 3. 

The Saints fan wants the lighting to be changed to red and white in time for the 50th anniversary of Southampton’s solitary FA Cup triumph in 1976.

He explained: ‘Think about how great it would look for the bridge to be lit up in our city colours with the stadium in the background.’

Southampton have had the upper hand on the pitch in recent meetings, with the Saints unbeaten in the last three encounters

Saints fan and campaigner Perry McMillan will be hoping the proposed change of lights can inspire an upturn in form for Russell Martin’s side

Southampton fans will be keen to see the off-field issue go the same way as their recent battles on the pitch with Pompey, with the Saints unbeaten in the last three encounters.

Mr McMillan will also be hoping a change of colours can inspire an upturn in fortunes for Russell Martin’s side. 

Saturday’s 3-1 win against Leeds United brought an end to a run of four defeats in a row for Southampton. 

They currently sit 10th in the Championship table. 

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