Southampton

Southampton FC is a professional football club from the south coast city of the same name who were founded in 1885 by members of the St. Mary's Young Mens Association, which was the clubs original name, hence their nickname of 'The Saints'.

A couple of years later the club became St. Mary's FC, joining the Southern League as Southampton St. Mary's FC in 1884. They lifted the Southern League title in 1896-97 and again in 1897-98 and 1998-99 as Southampton FC.

After playing at various local venues, including the home of Hampshire CCC at Northlands Road, they built a new £10,000 stadium, called The Dell in 1898. The Saints reached the FA Cup Final of 1900 where they were defeated 4-0 by Bury at Crystal Palace.

In 1900-01 Southampton lifted a fourth Southern League championship before they reached a second Cup Final in 1902. On this occasion they lost 2-1 to Sheffield United in a replay at Crystal Palace after the first game had ended 1-1 at the same venue. 

The Southern League crown was also secured in 1902-03 and 1903-04 to make it six titles in total. In 1907-08 the team went to the last four of the FA Cup before Wolverhampton Wanderers extinguished any dreams of the trophy heading to The Dell.

Southampton became founder members of the Football League Division Three South in 1920-21, finishing as runners-up in their debut season. The Saints went one better in 1921-22 as they won the title and promotion to Division Two.

Later in the decade Southampton reached the FA Cup semi-finals, but lost out to Sheffield United in 1924-25 and Arsenal in 1926-27. The Saints had to play some home games at the home of their bitter rivals Portsmouth FC after the Second World War as a bomb left an eighteen foot crater on The Dell's pitch in 1940.

In 1952-53 season saw the Saints relegated back to Division Three South, from where they were placed in Division Three following the Football League re-organisation. A year later Southampton were promoted to Division Two. Another FA Cup semi-final was reached in 1962-63 where the team were defeated by Manchester United under legendary manager Ted Bates.

Bates took Southampton to Division One; the top flight of the day in 1965-66 as Martin Chivers and then Ron Davies banging in the goals. Top seven finishes at the start of the 70’s led to brief dalliances in the European Inter-Cities Fairs Cup; the predecessor to the UEFA Cup and Europa League.

England international Terry Paine was a mainstay of the team, with youngster Mike Channon joining the fray. In December 1973 Bates was replaced by Lawrie McMenemy but he could not save the club from relegation in May 1974.

McMenemy rebuilt the side adding experienced players such as Peter Osgood and Jim McCalliog to a youthful side. His team would provide Saints fans with their most memorable moment.

In 1975-76 Southampton defeated Aston Villa, Blackpool, West Bromwich Albion, Bradford City and Crystal Palace to reach the FA Cup Final at Wembley against Manchester United. Despite being massive underdogs a goal from Bobby Stokes near the end of the game gave Saints a 1-0 win and finally the famous old trophy.

McMenemy continued to mold his side by bringing in Alan Ball to captain the side to promotion back to Division One in 1977-78. In the summer of 1980 Southampton came to the attention of the football world with the remarkable signing of Kevin Keegan from Hamburg SV.

Keegan stayed with Saints for two seasons but the club continued to make major signings in the shape of Peter Shilton and David Armstrong to supplement the home grown talent of Steve Moran and Danny Wallace. Southampton ended the 1983-84 season as League runners-up.

After finishing fifth place in 1984-85 McMenemy resigned to move back to the north east and take over as manager at Sunderland, in what would prove to be a disastrous move. Chris Nicol took over as manager as the team evolved. Nicol kept the side in the top flight for six seasons as Matt Le Tissier and Alan Shearer made their mark at The Dell.

Nicol was replaced by Ian Branfoot as Saints changed style to a more physical and direct approach. Shearer was sold to Blackburn Rovers in June 1992, while Branfoot remained in charge until January 1994.

Southampton were founder members of the Premier League in 1992-93 and Alan Ball took over from Branfoot as top flight status was once again secured for two more seasons. Dave Merrington had a season at the helm before Graeme Souness was appointed as manager in May 1996.

Souness had just one season in charge, which included the astounding tale of Ali Dia, which can be seen here. Souness was replaced by David Jones at the completion of the 1996-97 season after a sixteenth place finish.

The goals of Kevin Davies continued to keep Saints on an even keel, while Jones departed during the 1999-00 campaign to be replaced by Glenn Hoddle. Hoddle secured another season of top flight football before heading off to Tottenham Hotspur.

Stuart Gray took over as Southampton left The Dell to move to a new 32,000 St. Mary's Stadium, close to the church where the club was originally formed. The Dell was unsuitable for the demands of the new era but it always held a massive home advantage for the team in its cramped surrounds. Teams preferred visiting the luxuries of the new stadium. 

Gray didn’t last long at St Mary’s with Gordon Strachan coming to the club in his place. The Saints reached the 2003 FA Cup Final where they were defeated by Arsenal at the Millennium Stadium as well as finishing eighth in the league.

Strachan resigned in March 2004 to be replaced by Paul Sturrock; who in turn lasted just five months before new boss Steve Wigley took over. There were rumours of player dissatisfaction and interference from Chairman, Rupert Lowe.

Harry Redknapp’s appointment caused near riots on the south coast, when he left Portsmouth to take over the reigns at St Mary’s after a spat with Pompey Chairman, Milan Mandaric; much to the joy of The Saints fans during the 2004-05 season. However, he could not save the club from relegation.

Remarkably in November 2005 Redknapp went back to Portsmouth which led to a period of the two clubs fighting each other in court. Saints continued to make the headlines when Lowe appointed England Rugby Union coach Clive Woodward as Technical Director so assist head coach George Burley.

In fighting was also taking place in the boardroom with talks of takeovers making continual headlines. Finances were in dire straights owing to the losing of TV money following relegation and dropping attendances. One bright spot was the excellent youth system at the club that produced Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott amongst others.

The club slipped into the third tier in 2009 after a disastrous season that had seen Nigel Pearson, Jan Poortvliet and Mark Wotte all having spells as manager. The club entered administration meaning they started the 2009-10 season on minus ten points. The club was taken over by a German businessman, Markus Liebherr.

The club consolidated on and off the pitch under Alan Pardew’s team managership before Nigel Adkins was headhunted in what was seen as a risky move from Scunthorpe. The new boss led the side to promotion at the end of their 125th anniversary to much acclaim.

He and the side profited from that momentum and secured back to back promotions, leading the Saints back to the Premier League at the end of the 2011-12 season.

Money was spent on new players in readiness for The Saints first season back at the top level. After a poor start the team began to put in some impressive performances before Adkins was controversially sacked in January 2013 to be replaced by Argentinian Mauricio Pochettino.

More heavy money was spent on the playing squad in the summer of 2013 to augment the promising home grown talent such as Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert. Pochettino's pressing style of football was popular and brought results. Southampton eventually finished in eighth position before the manager was tempted away by Tottenham Hotspur's overtures.

Saints loyal fans were concerned. Mr Liebherr had passed away during the season and his wife Katrina was now in control. Rumours circulated that she was not a football fan. Several players including Lambert, Lallana, Calum Chambers and Dejan Lovren departed for huge fees.

The new manager was Dutch legend Ronald Koeman. He began the rebuilding job with quality signings in Graziano Pelle, Dusin Tadic and Fraser Forster, while the likes of Nathaniel Clyne continued their progress. Koeman took the side to an impressive seventh place.

Clyne departed in the summer of 2015 along with Morgan Schneidelin, but Koeman looked to refresh the squad as Virgil van Dijk arrived from Celtic. Koeman left St Mary’s in June 2016 to join Everton with Claude Puel coming in to replace him.

Star striker Graziano Pellé was sold to Shandong Luneng, while Victor Wanyama headed to Tottenham Hotspur. The Saints continued to sign quality players from overseas to replace former stars to continue providing entertaining football for their fans.

The 2016-17 season saw Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, Martín Cáceres and Manolo Gabbiadini arrive to gel with English talent James Ward-Prowse, Ryan Bertrand and Nathan Redmond. The mixture worked as the Saints reached the final of the EFL Cup, where they lost 3-2 to Manchester United after extra time.

Puel was replaced as manager by Mauricio Pellegrino in the summer of 2017, despite the team ending the season in eighth position. Van Dijk was sold for a record fee in the mid season transfer window before Pellegrino was sacked and replaced by Mark Hughes in March 2018.

The new boss inspired the team who eventually escaped relegation as well as reaching the semifinal of the FA Cup where they lost to Chelsea. However, Hughes was dismissed in December 2018, with the Austrian, Ralph Hasenhüttl coming in as his replacement. The goals of Danny Ings took the Saints to a midtable finish in 2019-20.

The 2020-21 campaign saw another FA Cup semifinal appearance, this time losing to eventual winners Leicester City, while skipper James Ward-Prowse played a starring role. The following season saw another season hovering just clear of the drop zone.

Hasenhüttl was replaced by Nathan Jones in November 2022, whose spell lasted just a few months before the appointment of Rubén Sellés who could not steer the side clear of relegation, who eventually finished bottom of the table. The Spaniard was replaced by Russell Martin.

His side defeated West Bromwich Albion in the 2023-24 playoffs before a goal from Adam Armstrong was enough to beat Leeds United at Wembley to seal promotion back to the Premier League.

Southampton FC will play in the Premier League in the 2024-25 season.

My visits

Southampton 1 Scarborough 0 (Tuesday 22nd November 1988) League Cup Third Round replay (att: 9,398)

Boro had fought back from two goals down to force a replay after the first game in North Yorkshire against the consistent top flight Saints team. We set off at lunchtime in a mini bus from Scarborough Post Office straight from work. in an attempt to conceal alcohol on our bus we took a bottle of orange laced with vodka on board. 

This master plan lasted us all of thirty miles of the mammoth journey when it ran out. We got to the outskirts of Southampton by around 6pm so Rich C driving, found us a pub. We got into the away end of The Dell full of hope and in decent spirits.

The Dell really was a strangely set out venue fitting in tightly to the surrounding streets. We were in a section behind the goal at the Archers Road End with many huge segregation barriers obstructing our view. Along that end were terracing in different sections at different heights. A couple of years later it was converted and saw out life as a seated stand. 

Down both sides were similar steep two tiered East and West Stands with downstairs at this time being a mixture of seats and standing before the Taylor Report and all seating stipulations. Behind the far goal the players came out in the corner before a triangular two tiered open terraced Milton Road End took over. It really was a strange construction but quite rational compared to the old "Chocolate Box" sections that proceeded it. By The Dell's final days this end was one large strange shaped covered seated stand.

(Incidentally where the ground once stood, it is now housing built in "courts", named after the following Saints heroes: Stokes, Bates, Le Tissier, Wallace and Channon.)

Back to the night in question and Boro were not overawed whatsoever against their illustrious opponents. A fair contingent of travelling fans were in good voice cheering the side on. The Saints eventually scored through Matt Le Tissier but Boro battled on and should have had an equaliser when Mitch Cook missed a free header from five yards out. The Boro players received a standing ovation from the home fans who all remained behind at the final whistle which was a superb and sincere gesture.

Two other highlights from the evening were that it was the first time the "Seadogs" chant was ever heard at a Boro game. It was used to describe "The Seadogs of Scarborough" in the "On the Ball" report of the first game and in time it became the clubs nickname. A specially commissioned set of light blue shirts was commissioned for the game to avoid a colour clash as Boro's home shirt was red and away one white, with Southampton wearing red and white stripes. Earlier in the season Boro had borrowed a set of amber and black kit from Hull City for their midweek away game at Exeter City to avert a similar problem.

I was very tired and grumpy on the way home, trying to catch some sleep and probably been a pain to many other of the passengers who had to squeeze past me when we stopped and nudging me out of my slumber. I went straight to work as a postman, falling asleep in the van on the way to the start of my round and going straight home to bed at the earliest possible opportunity.

I wished I was young enough to do it all again and that my team were playing the likes of Southampton. Here's hoping!

Southampton 3 MK Dons 1 (Saturday 24 October 2009) League One (att: 21,387)

I was kindly taken off work early in repayment for an earlier favour, so I looked for somewhere a bit further afield. I booked my match ticket for just £19 the day before which I was told was right in the centre of the home end. I was warned that because of the postal strike that the collection point could well be very busy.

My train took 40 minutes longer than it normally would because of engineering works but I arrived in Southampton at 1.40pm. I was told the stadium was a long walk from the station, so I boarded a free shuttle bus. In the end this probably took nearly as long as it got caught up in the matchday traffic. 

I hurried up to the very impressive stadium, which is on a light industrial estate. After a lap of the stadium I found the collection point and had my ticket within minutes. All was friendly and efficient. The main side of the stadium looks superb outside with an impressive frontage and a statue of "Mr Southampton", Ted Bates. A really nice touch was a large bicycle stand to encourage fans to "go green". I found my turnstile and I was soon inside.

There are no pubs in the vicinity so I was happy to find a large but relatively basic concourse. They seemed to have sussed things out pretty well to avoid queues. There were two food and non alcoholic drink stalls and two that sold just beer and pies. 

How simple is that? I wish some other clubs would take note. There was also a bookies, where I put a few quid on home player Adam Lallana for the first goal, and a welcome but unusual feature these days: a programme stall.

After a couple of pints I found my seat and it did give a great view. The stadium is one continuous covered bowl of single tiered seats. It is light years away from what The Dell could ever wish to offer. I was in the Chapel Stand. To the left was the Kingsland Stand, the far end was the Northam Stand and finally to the right was the main Itchen Stand, which had boxes at the rear. 

It was noticeable that there were not many occupiers for them or the posh seats in the centre, as the johnny come lately's obviously thought that third tier football was below them. I hope that when the club do get back to where they belong that they really hammer these people price wise. It turned out that I was in the family stand, which probably explained why I could get a beer so easily!

Saints were on a run of four wins, while today's opponents the immensely disliked franchise corporation that is MK Dons were in the top three with boss Paul Ince in his second spell at the club. The home side tried to play some lovely stuff. 

I had seen them at Charlton at the start of the season and Alan Pardew had gradually brought his own players in to suit the attractive style of football he seems to prefer. The Dons were functional, fit and aggresive. Lallana had two chances well saved and a third disallowed. I popped out just before half time and sure enough the away side went one up.

I moved to a high up corner seat to get myself more space in the second half and to avoid the kids. It's great to see them there, but after hearing Dons full back Dean Lewington being called the Ginger Ninjha for the 500th time was getting on my tits to be frank. 

I was now in a section where others obviously had the same idea as myself. I'm amazed the bloke behind me was never approached. He was OTT for a blue comedy club, let alone a family stand. How he never burst with anger I'll never know?

Saints gradually built up the pressure and the whole crowd played their part before Dean Hammond rounded off a great move. The place went berserk and the bloke behind me had me in stitches with, "Take that you Northern bastards" at the away fans who were only 110 metres away.

The crowd got ever louder when a clever but simple free kick straight off the training ground set up top scorer Rickie Lambert to put the Saints ahead. The Dons pushed forward for an equaliser as the home side tried to remain calm, before substitute David Connolly finished off the visitors.

It was a quality game of football which I really got into. The style of football played by Saints was enjoyable and the crowd were excellent. I want to finish off all ninety two league grounds, but I'll be very tempted to return to St Mary's. A wonderful day out in a pleasant city with civilised fans. Highly recommended.

Southampton 0 Hull City 0 (Saturday 29^th April 2017) Premier League (att: 31,120)

My day had begun with a first visit to Saints near neighbours Eastleigh and their end of season match with Wrexham. The weather was getting brighter and warmer as I headed on the Bluestar 2 bus where I alighted outside The Giddy Bridge pub on London Road around 2.35.

Many fans were still drinking in the pubs but I was still a little unsure of my route to the ground and just how long it would take? There were certainly enough Saints clad supporters to lead the way.

Crossing the corner of East Park and walking by the side of Southampton Solent University I then followed a pedestrian underpass under the dual carriageway and into the pretty Old Northam Road with its old record and antique shops.

This led to an enclosed pedestrian railway bridge and down to behind the Northam End of St Mary’s. Once I’d eventually found someone selling the match programme, which cost £4 I was soon through the turnstiles and in the away end.

My seat was marvellous value for £20. I was around three rows from the back and right on the end of a row. Many of the City fans around me were standing without any steward intervention. The atmosphere was raucous and passionate. I loved it.

City’s home record under Marco Silva was giving them a real chance of surviving relegation but they really did need to improve their atrocious away form. Saints were heading for a finish around half way up the table.

While neutrals and home fans may have reported that the first half was dull, I really enjoyed it. City defended excellently with Harry Maguire once again leading the way. They looked good going forward and I was most impressed with the efforts of Oumar Niasse and Lazar Marković.

Kamil Grosicki saw a free kick hit the outside of the post for the Tigers in the closest attempt on goal before the break. Southampton were the better side after the restart and had a ten minute period of sustained pressure, but City held firm.

Eldin Jakupović dropped one cross but made a tremendous block to keep hi goal intact. As the match progressed Tom Huddlestone replaced Marković. His first pass set up Niasse but the forward blasted his half chance high over the board.

The game looked like it was heading for stalemate when referee Mike Dean decided that a clash in the area between Alfred N’Diaye and Maya Yoshida was worthy of awarding Saints a penalty.

Dušan Tadić stepped forward to take the spot kick. He struck it to his right, but Jakupović dived across to push the ball away to cue mass mayhem amongst the superb away support, who had not stopped singing all afternoon.

City came close before the end of the game as a glancing header from Michael Dawson was kept out, with TV replays showing that Niasse had been held back from applying the finishing touch when a penalty could have easily have been awarded.

The ovation for the team continued from City fans after the game. A video from the afternoon can be watched here.

My train back wasn’t until 5.55 so I followed the mass crowds back and followed the walkway to the city centre before heading to the Slug & Lettuce Bar on Above Bar Street for a fine pint of local Ringwood Razorback Ale.

Back at the station I bumped into some City fans I’d met the previous summer at county cricket in London. My journey back was longer than I expected as I pondered on whether to have beers at Clapham Junction but common sense prevailed as I ended a superb day out by watching the amazing Joshua v Klitschko fight.

The photos of The Dell have been taken from the internet as I failed to take any on my visit long ago with Scarborough FC.