November 25 2004

Iain Dowie

IAIN DOWIE spoke warmingly of his playing career at Southampton this week as he prepared to return to the club for the first time since he left to join Crystal Palace in 1995, Stuart Pink.

DOWIE made over 100 appearances for the Saints in three-and-a-half years and played in one of their most remembered sides in the early 90s under Ian Branfoot.

DOWIE said: "I had a fantastic time as a player, a lot of great times. We had lots of characters in there.

"We had Micky Adams, we had Glen Cockerill, Terry Hurlock, Tim Flowers who was my best mate there, Steve Wood, Neil Ruddock, Shearer, Le Tissier, Kerry Dixon, David Speedie, Jason Dodd was there, and Franny Benali.

"You had to be on your toes in that dressing room, we had a few leaders in there, the banter was very, very sharp."

The Palace boss highlighted the season when the Saints rose from bottom of the Premiership at Christmas and propelled themselves up the league with an amazing run under Ian Branfoot, as his most memorable time at the club.

DOWIE added: "We had a wonderful team spirit, we maintained Premiership status at the time when it wasn't a fashionable club in terms of size."

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