Southampton footballer Matthew Oakley is enjoying the 2000-1 season.

As well as becoming a first team regular for the Saints, he’s now been given his own column in the Southern Daily Echo.

The attacking midfielder has a full page in the Echo’s sport section each week to write about all the happenings at Southampton FC.

Sports editor David King explained why Matthew Oakley was the best choice for the new feature.

He said: “Matthew is Southampton born and bred which makes him very popular with the fans. It’s certainly a more logical choice than someone like Hassan Kachloul who comes from Morocco.”

“He’s just starting to emerge from the shadow of Matthew Le Tissier and he’s also a bright lad. It should be quite interesting.”

Oakley himself said: “It’s something I’ve been looking to do for a while. I’m really looking forward to it and I’m sure it will be a lot of fun.”

His first column will appear in Thursday’s Echo and the paper has already begun the big build-up.

It said: “We’ve given Matt a completely blank page. No subjects are off limits and he’s keen to stamp his personality all over his new column.”

Do you have a story for us?
Ring the HoldTheFrontPage newsdesk on
01332 291111 x6022, or to e-mail us now – click here