1929📍 The Dell, Southampton
In January 1929, Southampton Football Club offered the Band a weekly engagement to play at The Dell, with the Band receiving income from a collection. Ernie Allen later described this as “the turning point” in the Band’s fortunes.
The money earned from these regular engagements allowed the Band to gradually reduce the considerable debt incurred when purchasing its new instruments. The relationship with Southampton Football Club would also soon present the Band with another challenge — for the following season, the Club required the musicians to appear in uniform rather than in their usual civilian clothes.