It sure feels like it.  The definition of `fateful` according to the Cambridge Dictionary is "having a very important and often negative effect on the future."  So why the negativity?  Well, today is FA Cup semi-final day for us Saints fans.  We now know that Chelsea are through to the final as a result of their 1-0 win over Manchester City yesterday and today at Wembley the Saints take on Leicester City is the second semi-final.

And anything can happen, of course.  But the default condition of us Saints fans is one of nervousness, uncertainty and an anticipation of disappointment and so we face today with all those emotions, hoping for the best, expecting the worst.  Not helped by the fact that it was Leicester City who inflicted a 9-0 defeat on Southampton at St. Mary`s last season, although to be fair the Saints won 2-0 in the reverse league fixture at the King Power, so maybe there is a glimmer of hope in that.  At around 8.00 this evening, we will know the answer.  At least I won`t be able to watch it even from behind the sofa, as the game is televised by BT - which I don`t have and which might be a blessing in disguise.

In other news, it was good to see Forest Green Rovers manage a 3-2 home win against Scunthorpe to keep their play-off hopes alive.  Following the sacking of manager Mark Cooper last week, Rovers are now under the interim coaching of Jimmy Ball, son of World Cup winner and ex-Saints player and manager Alan Ball - maybe this connection, however tenuous, might be an encouraging omen.

Gillingham went down 3-2 away at high(ish) flying Oxford United, so the Gills have the proverbial mountain to climb if they are to reach the play-offs this season.  I fear the mountain might be a shade too high.   As for Brechin City, yet another defeat (why do I always follow teams who have a preponderance for failure?) this time a 3-0 loss away at Annan Athletic.  Brechin have now amassed just five points from 17 games this season and with their goal difference of minus 31 they are now assured of a place in the play-off with whoever wins the game between the respective champions of the Highland and Lowland Leagues to determine City`s future.

So, a fateful day for Southampton. We`ve had semi-finals before and come through them so here`s hoping.  However, if you don`t hear from me for some time, you will know why.

First and foremost, congratulations to Gillingham Football Club for securing their place in League One for next season.  In a nail-biting climax to a difficult season the Gills needed to avoid defeat away at Northampton and hope that their nearest rivals for relegation, Port Vale, failed to win in their game away at Fleetwood.  In the end, each game finished 0-0 and so the Gills survive, leaving Port Vale to plunge into the murky depths of League Two, aka Division Four.

My next door neighbour, the renowned Gills fan, has been remarkably quiet following this great escape - perhaps he is still savouring the moment or possibly still under sedation - but it shows the touch of class which Gills fans have in accepting those twin impostors of triumph and disaster with restraint and moderation.

Sadly, but perhaps predictably, the same cannot be said of Portsmouth, who, despite the rise of Bournemouth and Brighton, still consider themselves to be the Saints` main south coast rivals.  Now, Portsmouth have just secured promotion from that same Division Four back to League One, which is seen by the club and their supporters as a sporting achievement that warrants an open top bus parade through the streets.  This was the scene as Portsmouth once again displayed the kind of class for which they are themselves renowned.........

Maybe, as they will be in the same division next season, they will get some helpful advice from Gillingham as to how to go about this sort of thing........ 

Last night, whilst the brouhaha over the departure of `Big` Sam Allardyce was in full spate, an altogether different football experience was to be found at the Proact Stadium, home of Chesterfield FC - nicknamed The Spireites after the extraordinary spire on the local church.   The visitors last night were Gillingham FC, for whom our street`s local hero, Scott Wagstaff, plies his trade as a pacy flanker, fleet-footed wingback or midfield dynamo, depending on the manager`s selection, the nature of the opposition and the job he is required to do in any given game.

Now, here in our quiet Kentish conclave there is an eclectic mix of football supporters - West Ham being prominent, if a little on edge - along with my neighbour, who is a died-in-the-wool Gillingham fan and myself as a lifelong Southampton supporter.  But we all have one thing in common, which is to have followed the fortunes of 26-year old Scott Wagstaff over the years since his apprenticeship at Charlton, through loan spells at Northwich Victoria, Bournemouth and Leyton Orient and cementing his burgeoning career at Bristol City and now Gillingham.  Shades of The Return of the Native indeed..

Last night, the Gills found themselves 3-1 down deep into the second half but then Wagstaff produced two moments of inspiration to secure a 3-3 draw and a priceless point away from home in the depths of Derbyshire.   The first was to tumble under a heavy challege in the penalty area with such conviction that the referee, one Trevor Kettle, had no choice but to rightly award the Gills a spot kick, which was duly dispatched by Wagstaff`s former Bristol City colleague, Jay Emanuel-Thomas, aka JET.

The second - as deep into added time as the 96th minute - saw our local hero latch on to a cross and bury the ball beyond the despairing clutches of the Spireites` sprawling custodian.  And it`s becoming increasingly the case that moments like that, in the real football world rather than the tainted circus of the Premier League, remind us that there is life and joy and honest endeavour to be had beyond the avarice, the assumed entitlement and the deeply unedifying spectacle of the self-styled `best league in the world.`

THE RETURN OF THE NATIVE...

After weeks of speculation it has now been revealed that our street`s local hero - pacy flanker Scott ("Buzzin` six-pack") Wagstaff, 26, has returned to home territory.   Having seen out his contract at Bristol City, he was keen to find a club which valued his qualities and which would benefit from his regular outings in the occasional goal scoring, deep crossing, pacy flanking department.

And so, despite overtures from a number of other clubs, he has now signed a two year deal with our near neighbours Gillingham.   Apart from his footballing credentials he brings the added bonuses of a quite spectacular beard and, of course, his renowned goal celebration, `The Brick.`   This extraordinary contortion has become something of a trademark celebration and consists of him lying flat on his back whilst waiting for fellow team mates to arrive and lay on top of him.   Here`s an example:-

Now those kind of antics might have gone down a storm in the backwaters of Ashton Gate but I await with interest to see the reaction it brings to the aficionados of Gillingham`s Rainham End which has among their ranks none other than my good friend and neighbour Mr. Slightly, proud owner of a Gillingham season ticket.

So, welcome home Scott and I hope your return to the depths of Kent will be a happy and successful one.  I end by repeating the quote that Scott gave to the waiting media when he arrived at the Priestfield Stadium the other day.  He is alleged to have said, "The Gills are a sleeping giant with great fans, a great stadium and a state of the art training facility so when I heard that they were interested I knew that they were the club for me and I didn`t want to go anywhere else."  Now admittedly he may have strayed marginally from the strict teachings of the Professional Footballers Association Manual of Cliches, but I`m sure the message brought added comfort to the Priestfield faithful.  To be fair.