Football fans win three-year fight to alter bridge lights so they don’t match colour of bitter rivals 

FOOTBALL fans have won a three-year fight to alter bridge lights so they don’t match the colour of their bitter rivals. 

Southampton supporters were furious the lamps on Itchen Bridge were blue — the colour of Portsmouth. 

Southampton fan and Campaigner Perry McMillan said he was ‘over the moon’ after getting the lights on the city’s Itchen Bridge changed to red on matchdays – rather than the blue of rivals PortsmouthCredit: Solent
The Itchen Bridge sits around half a mile from Southampton’s St Mary’s stadiumCredit: Solent
The clubs’ bitter rivalry boiled over during their recent derby clash at Portsmouth’s Fratton Park stadium in JanuaryCredit: Alamy

It is thought the lights will still remain blue the majority of time. 

Now they will shine red and white on match days. Campaigner Perry McMillan said: “I’m over the moon.”  

He added: “The bridge is such a well-known and iconic structure in the city, so its only right the colours represent us.

“This will be fantastic for those sailing into the city for the first time on cruise ships.

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“I was confident that one day this would happen but I’m thrilled that the council have now made the announcement.

“I can’t wait to see the red and white lights when Saints play at home – it’s going to be brilliant.

Council leader Alex Winning said: “As part of refurbishment we will update the lighting to allow us to mark key moments.  

“It would be great to light the bridge red, white and blue for national celebrations.” 

The Itchen Bridge sits around half a mile from Southampton’s St Mary’s stadium. 

At the same meeting an application to rename the bridge after celebrated former manager Lawrie McMenemy was dismissed. 

The Pompey blue lights that left Saints fans furious – St Mary’s stadium can be seen in the backgroundCredit: Solent

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