A DEVOTED duo of soccer-minded Southerners who converted to Rugby League via the 'box' have moved north -- to be near their beloved Saints!

For Keith and Val Snashall sold their Portsmouth home and swapped jobs before making the 250-mile, five-hour trip to St Helens where, after settling in a new house, they hot-footed it to Knowsley Road.

The seeds of an on-going love affair with Saints were planted with the launch of Super League and Sky television coverage in 1996, with Keith and Val's first 'live' game being the home defeat against London Broncos in 1999.

The Grand Final triumph over Bradford Bulls found furniture company worker Snashall and his accountant wife really smitten and -- tiring of the round trip to Rugby League's heartland -- they decided to pull up their roots.

"I managed to obtain a transfer from my employers," said Keith, "and January saw Val and I living near Eltonhead Road which, looking to the future, will be convenient for Saints' new ground.

"Our first game as adopted Sintelliners was the 44-6 thrashing by Melbourne Storm," ruefully remembered Keith, "but there have been plenty of high-points since, including walloping Wigan on Good Friday."

A one-time Portsmouth FC stalwart, Keith was a familiar face on the Fratton Park terraces and wore the Pompey jersey with pride, but no longer, while Val's most prized possession, along with her season ticket, is a shirt signed by Sean Long.

Freddie Tuilagi is also high in Val's favourite player pecking order, as are Apollo Perelini and Paul Wellens with her hubby and, needless to say, they are sad that the charismatic Western Samoans will be lost to Saints at the end of the season.

And the oval-ball ramblings of Keith and Val haven't quite finished yet, for the intrepid pair intend to hit the road again, this time for the World Cup games at Cardiff and Twickenham in the autumn. "By then Saints will have repeated last year's championship success!" declared the smiling Snashalls -- such is their faith in the squad whose entertaining brand of Rugby League caused them to seek pastures new.