So, here we are again. Another new prime minister. Gets boring after a while, doesn’t it? Well, apparently not.

After Liz Truss tried really, really hard but showed herself to be the embodiment of the ‚Nothing to see here‘ scene from The Naked Gun, Rishi Sunak has now been voted by the countr- sorry, by the Conservative Party to be the new leader of the United Kingdom. Truly inspiring stuff.

Sunak scooped the role having lost the first leadership contest to Truss. She imploded spectacularly and was gone in 45 days, leaving Sunak free to become PM essentially through clearing, not without some Boris Johnson-shaped scares.

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Sunak is on the record as a Southampton fan. He was born in Southampton in 1980 and is the eldest of three siblings, having a brother, Sanjay, and a sister, Raakhi. He attended Stroud School, a prep school in Romsey, and Winchester College, an independent boys‘ boarding school.

His father, Yashvir, had a season ticket with Southampton, while Sunak revealed he was also given a signed card from the Saints squad for his 18th birthday, which has since become „one of his most prized possessions“.

Michael Ashcroft’s biography of Sunak, titled ‚Going For Broke: The Rise of Rishi Sunak‘, revealed the naughtiest thing the Tory PM did while at Winchester „was to smuggle a hand-held television into the school so that he did not miss any key games of Euro 96“. That tournament was held in England and the Three Lions reached the semi finals, where they were eliminated on penalties by Germany.

Speaking at an event earlier in 2022, Sunak spoke of his fondness for Southampton and said he would love to run the club before making a somewhat embarrassing gaffe.

„I’m a massive football fan, I’m from Southampton and if I would get to be able to run Southampton [I would do that],“ he said.

Responding to a cheer from the crowd, he said: „Oh, wow, is there a Saints fan here? Look at that, brilliant.“

When asked in August how the club could turn around their poor run of form, he added: „I’m going to be unpopular for saying it here, starting by beating [Manchester] United this weekend.“ Southampton were in action against Leicester that week.

When Southampton were top of the Premier League in November 2020, Sunak posted: „Taken 32 years but worth the wait. Now let’s hope it lasts.“

He has also previously revealed his favourite ever Saints player is Matt Le Tissier, who earned legendary status in the Premier League for his performances throughout the 1990s.

The football clubs politicians support

Boris Johnson is a well-known rugby man, among many, many, many other things, but has previously announced his footballing allegiances. He said he simply supports „all of the London teams“ during his time as the capital’s mayor.

There must be something in the Labour manifesto that requests their modern-day leaders support Arsenal, as Jeremy Corbyn and Keir Starmer are both regularly seen at the Emirates. They probably don’t sit together, y’know, what with party tensions and all that. Starmer has been meme’d far and wide for some questionable six-a-side displays, though he still backs himself as a “box-to-box midfield general”.

It might also be unfair to taint an entire fanbase by associating their club with one politician in particular, but Priti Patel also supports Arsenal, and that is something all Gunners fans must acknowledge in any future ‚clout‘ discussions.

Old PM David Cameron has previously scored the own goal of confusing the teams he says he supports. Having always backed Aston Villa, he got his clarets and blues mixed up when addressing a crowd at an event celebrating multiculturalism in Britain.

He said: „We are a shining example of a country where multiple identities work. Where you can be Welsh and Hindu and British, Northern Irish and Jewish and British; where you can wear a kilt and a turban; where you can wear a hijab covered in poppies. Where you can support Manchester United, the Windies and Team GB at the same time. Of course, I’d rather you supported West Ham.“

The single thought of Matt Hancock is enough to make anyone squeal and squirm, but he has also been pictured looking suitably silly and frightened while playing football. He supports Newcastle, where he has Tory ties with co-owner Jamie Reuben.