Midnite recruit Southampton fans to form ‘Tifo Committee’ ahead of crunch derby with Portsmouth

• Southampton sponsors Midnite have launched the football league’s first Tifo Committee, working with fans to create throughout the season

• Midnite’s Tifo Committee is comprised of Southampton supporter group members

• Midnite tease brand new tifo ahead of Sunday’s South-coast derby at St Mary’s

• The Committee was formed after Midnite’s tifo at the season opener against Wrexham AFC

Midnite – the fastest-growing UK sports betting and online casino operator and Official Training Kit partner of Southampton FC – has recruited a group of Saints fans to form a Tifo Committee ahead of this weekend’s South Coast derby against Portsmouth.

The Tifo Committee, which is the first of its kind within the league, will help Midnite deliver a series of iconic tifos throughout the season and add to the colour and atmosphere at Saints home games.

Composed of key members of various supporter groups associated with Southampton, Midnite have leant on the expertise of the people who know the football club better than anyone: the fans.

Members of the Tifo Committee include: Mike Smale (MatchDayVlogs), Alex Graham (TotalSaintsPodcast), Louise Burke (Southampton Fan Advisory Board) and Yasmin Wiseman (Southampton Fan Advisory Board).

Midnite were behind a new tifo unveiled against Wrexham on the opening day of the season and will unveil the new banner designed by the Tifo Committee before the derby against Portsmouth on Sunday.

Andrew Mook, Head of Brand Marketing at Midnite, said: “Tifos are a huge part of modern fan football culture, and we wanted to bring this to St Mary’s consistently throughout the season.

“To mark the opening day of the new season, we unveiled a tifo which paid homage to seven Saints legends and it was very well received by Saints fans. But we wanted to go bigger as the season progressed, while also leaning on the people who make the football club what it is – the fans.

“We have been collaborating with our Tifo Committee to hear what sort of designs will really captivate the fanbase, and we’re very excited to unveil our brand new tifo ahead of the Southampton vs Portsmouth fixture on Sunday.

“This is an iconic fixture in English football, and we wanted to bring the history of the fixture to life. We’re confident that the Saints fans will like what our Tifo Committee has come up with.

“We’re loving the start of our partnership with Southampton, and are dedicated to using our platform to bring fans closer to the action this season, with meaningful and impactful campaigns.”

Mike Smale, Founder of MatchDayVlogs, and member of the Midnite Tifo Committee, said:  “Being part of the Midnite Tifo committee has been a privilege. To represent the fanbase and reflect the passion of our supporters is no small task. Time and again, Saints fans have shown they’re among the very best in the country – turning up, singing loud, and backing the team no matter the circumstances.

“We want these displays to be a reflection of the unity and pride that runs through this fanbase. The atmosphere at St Mary’s during these big games proves that when our supporters come together, we create something unforgettable – both on the pitch and in the stands.”