Mark Cheeseman: The fan who scored for Saints 30 years after rejection

Mark Cheeseman came close in 1991 when he trialled for Southampton as a striker. He proudly has the rejection letter on a wall at home.

Little did he know, more than 30 years on, he would score for an ‘ex-Saints’ legends team in a 3-1 victory against Portland Old Boys after winning an auction to play for them.

Dreams really do come true after all.

“I’ve seen on the Saints Archive site, a chap called Vic Holland was advertising a silent auction where you could play with the ex-Saints for 20 minutes,” 47-year-old Cheeseman explained.

READ MORE: Portland Old Boys 1-3 Ex-Saints - report

“That was a couple of months ago and Vic contacted me telling me I’d won the auction. I was very shocked, to say the least.

“To get the chance to play for a team you’ve followed for the last 40 years, I was buzzing, I’ve got to admit.

“The chance to play was too good to miss. My wife ended up paying for it for my birthday which was even better, a win-win!

“I went up and joined the lads in the changing room before, which was an awesome experience with Beatts (James Beattie) and Brian Howard.

“All the lads were brilliant, chatting and welcoming. I sat in the dugout first-half with the Pieman, Wayne Shaw, and we went in at half-time.

“Then Glenn (Cockerill) came out and said: ‘Where do you want to play?’

“I used to play up front but I came on for Glenn with about half an hour to go at centre-mid.”

Mark Cheeseman scored for Southampton more than 30 years after a trial rejection (Image: IAN MIDDLEBROOK)

What followed even Cheeseman could not have envisioned.

“Unbelievably, I’ve got to say, I had a touch on the outside of the box,” he recalled.

“It sat up a treat on the left foot, which is not my favourite, and I managed to beat the keeper from about 20 yards, which was a bit weird.

“You’ve thought about it, don’t get me wrong, but never in a million years did I believe I would actually score unless there was a dodgy penalty and they let me take it.

“I’ve turned round and I’ve got Beatts, Glenn turning round, high-fiving you and saying: ‘Can you play next week?’

“It was a magic moment. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it was well worth every second and every penny that was paid.”

And there could be a further prize in store for the 47-year-old Yeovil resident.

“Matt le Tissier was going to play but he couldn’t make it,” Cheeseman said.

“Glenn found out about that and he's trying to arrange that I can play in one of the other ex-Saints games later in the year when Matt’s available.

“Playing with Beatts and that was amazing but playing in the same line-up as ‘le Tiss’ would be immense for me.

“It obviously might not happen and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t matter but it was a very good experience.”

Cheeseman, wearer of the nameless number 42 shirt against Portland, makes it down to St Mary’s up to ten times per season and supported the Saints at Anfield against Liverpool in November.

He added: “I’d love to have a season ticket but I think that might be a retirement present, I’ll have to wait a few years for that. I’m not quite there!”

Cheeseman, an accomplished striker back in his younger years with both Sherborne Town and Westland Sports, is now a coach.

He is set to lead Westland’s Under-18 boys into an Under-18 Knockout Cup semi-final against Tiverton Town on Sunday.

“I also turned out for Pen Mill a few years ago but not recovering from the Saturday game until the Friday, I knew it was time not to do it again,” he admitted.

“I started at Sherborne and played down there for a few years, then went across to Westland.

“I played at Queen Camel and Stoke-sub-Hamdon but a dodgy ankle put paid to it.”

Dodgy ankle or not, Cheeseman’s goal will live long in his memory and proves football can have a funny habit of turning full circle, even 30 years down the line.