Wednesday’s Championship match between Southampton and Preston North End has been postponed after a large fire broke out close to St Mary’s Stadium a few hours before kick-off.
Eighteen fire engines were at the scene of the blaze, which involved four industrial units just yards away from the ground.
Southampton said in a statement: “The decision was made after consultation with the local authorities and emergency services. The incident has caused significant disruption in the area with road closures around the stadium still in place as fire crews continue to deal with the situation.
“We are grateful for the cooperation of Preston and the EFL, and while we appreciate the disappointment fans may feel, we hope they will understand the need to put the safety of supporters and staff of both clubs first.”
The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire Service advised people in the area “to keep windows and doors closed due to the amount of smoke.”
after newsletter promotion
Accountant Chris Harwood posted footage of the fire filmed from the north of the stadium on X, formerly known as Twitter. Harwood, 25, told the PA news agency: “We could see a large smoke cloud from our office in Ocean Village, Southampton at lunch so decided to walk towards it to work out where it was coming from.”
