Southampton FC

Considering they have spent the majority of their recent history in the top-flight, it might be a little surprising that Southampton Football Club only have a single major honor to their name – the 1976 FA Cup. Nonetheless, their colorful tradition and the number of great players who wore their shirts make Southampton a household name of English football. The club's youth academy is renowned for consistently producing top talent and affording them the maximum opportunity for growth.

Basic facts

Founded: 1885
Country: England
City: Southampton

Home grounds

The Common (1885-1886)
Antelope Cricket Ground (1886-1896)
County Cricket Ground (1896-1898)
Dell (1898-2001)
St Mary's Stadium (2001-)

Main trophies

FA Cup: 1

Prominent players

Bert Shelley, Bill Rawlings, Tommy Traynor Mick Channon, Kevin Keagan, Terry Paine, Matt Le Tissier, Anders Svensson, Theo Walcott

Club records

Most games played: Terry Paine (815)
Top goalscorer: Mick Channon (228)

Saints team
The team in the season 1901-1902.

History

The club was formed in 1885 by members of the St. Mary's Church. The church-based roots are still a big part of the club's identity, as evidenced by their most popular nickname – The Saints. Upon winning the Southern League in 1897, the club changed its name to Southampton Football Club. A year later, they moved to The Dell, a stadium which would be their home for the next century.

Southampton followed up the 1897 Southern League victory by claiming five more titles in 1898, 1899, 1901, 1903 and 1904. During this period, they also made two FA Cup finals; however, Bury and Sheffield United would prove to be superior competition. They would finally join the Third Division of the Football League in 1920, advancing to the Second Division the very next season.

South American tour

In 1904, Southampton become the first British football club to make a South American tour. In these days, the British game was far more developed than that in South America. Southampton would start the tour in Argentine and in a succession of matches winning by a combined score of 29-4 before beating a Uruguayan mixed eleven by 8 to 1.

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Reaching the highest division

It took Southampton until 1966 to reach the First Division, where they remained for the next eight years. The top-flight gave the club their first taste of European football, with a couple of unsuccessful forays into the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and the UEFA Cup. But their finest moment came in 1976, two years after being relegated; in the FA Cup final, Southampton shocked the overwhelming favorite Manchester United 1-0 to grab the first major trophy in their history. They would almost claim a Football League Cup title as well three years later, but lost against Nottingham Forest.

The club's second top-flight campaign (1978-2005) would have far more longevity. Even though they did finish as runners-up to Liverpool in 1984, the clubs best result in the top league, most of this period was spent fighting to avoid another relegation. They stayed up mostly thanks to Matt Le Tissier, a gifted forward whose technical skills and loyalty to the club would make him the most beloved and influential player in Southampton's history. Le Tissier spent his entire professional career in Southampton, scoring 161 goals in 456 appearances.

Markus Liebherr becoming the new owner

Following another FA Cup final loss in 2003 and a relegation to League One in 2009, the club was surrounded with numerous financial difficulties. Their fortunes took, however, a turn for the better after the club was bought by businessman Markus Liebherr in 2010. It took Southampton only two years to return to the Premier League.

By Martin Wahl

Trivia

Football clubs also founded in 1885

Blackpool FC logoLuton Town FC
Millvall FC logoMillvall FC

Football clubs ordered after establishment

Logo

Southampton logoThe first version of the current logo was design in the 1970s – until that the club has used the same logo as the city. In the 1990s the logo was modified. The dominating parts of the logo is a halo at the top (corresponding with the teams nickname, “Saints”), a red and white scarf plus, a crest and a banner at the bottom.

League statistics

League record

Titles in total: 7
Premier League titles: 3
First participation: 1909-1910
First title: 1924-1925

All seasons

Season League Position Points Notes
2018-19 Premier League 16 39  
2017-18 Premier League 17 36  
2016-17 Premier League 8 46  
2015-16 Premier League 6 63  
2014-15 Premier League 7 60  
2013-14 Premier League 8 56  
2012-13 Premier League 14 41  
2011-12 EPL 2 88 Promoted
2010-11 League One 2 92 Promoted
2009-10 League One 7 73  
2008-09 EPL 23 45 Relegated
2007-08 EPL 20 54  
2006-07 EPL 6 75  
2005-06 EPL 12 58  
2004-05 Premier League 20 32 Relegated
2003-04 Premier League 12 47  
2002-03 Premier League 8 52  
2001-02 Premier League 11 45  
2000-01 Premier League 10 52  
1999-00 Premier League 15 44  
1998-99 Premier League 17 41  
1997-98 Premier League 12 48  
1996-97 Premier League 16 41  
1995-96 Premier League 17 38  
1994-95 Premier League 10 54  
1993-94 Premier League 18 43  
1992-93 Premier League 18 50  
1991-92 1st Division 18 53  
1990-91 1st Division 19 34  
1989-90 2nd Division 6 74 Promoted
1988-89 2nd Division 11 63  
1987-88 3rd Division 1 93 Promoted
1986-87 2nd Division 20 48 Relegated
1985-86 2nd Division 18 50  
1984-85 1st Division 21 40 Relegated
1983-84 1st Division 13 52  
1982-83 1st Division 16 50  
1981-82 1st Division 19 44  
1980-81 1st Division 17 35  
1979-80 2nd Division 2 54 Promoted
1978-79 2nd Division 4 55  
1977-78 2nd Division 6 44  
1976-77 1st Division 20 34 Relegated
1975-76 2nd Division 1 56 Promoted
1974-75 2nd Division 4 51  
1973-74 2nd Division 6 47  
1972-73 2nd Division 6 46  
1971-72 2nd Division 5 50  
1970-71 2nd Division 13 42  
1969-70 1st Division 21 26 Relegated
1968-69 1st Division 17 34  
1967-68 1st Division 15 37  
1966-67 1st Division 17 36  
1965-66 1st Division 19 36  
1964-65 1st Division 15 37  
1963-64 2nd Division 2 61 Promoted
1962-63 2nd Division 3 52  
1961-62 2nd Division 3 53  
1960-61 2nd Division 6 47  
1959-60 2nd Division 16 36  
1958-59 2nd Division 15 40  
1957-58 1st Division 21 32 Relegated
1956-57 1st Division 20 32  
1955-56 1st Division 9 43  
1954-55 1st Division 4 48  
1953-54 1st Division 18 36  
1952-53 1st Division 9 43  
1951-52 1st Division 12 42  
1950-51 1st Division 12 40  
1949-50 1st Division 3 52  
1948-49 1st Division 8 43  
1947-48 1st Division 20 36  
1946-47 1st Division 9 44  
1939-46 - - - WWII
1938-39 2nd Division 18 35  
1937-38 2nd Division 15 39  
1936-37 2nd Division 19 34  
1935-36 2nd Division 17 37  
1934-35 2nd Division 19 34  
1933-34 2nd Division 14 38  
1932-33 2nd Division 12 41  
1931-32 2nd Division 14 41  
1930-31 2nd Division 9 44  
1929-30 2nd Division 7 45  
1928-29 2nd Division 4 48  
1927-28 2nd Division 17 35  
1926-27 2nd Division 13 42  
1925-26 2nd Division 14 38  
1924-25 2nd Division 7 44  
1923-24 2nd Division 5 48  
1922-23 2nd Division 11 42  
1921-22 3rd Division S 1 61 Promoted
1920-21 3rd Division 2 54  

Note. The 1939-40 season was abandoned after three rounds and is therefore excluded.

Premier League – facts, stats and history

References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southampton_FC
http://www.espnfc.com/story/1129096/a-brief-history-of-southampton

Jonathan Wilson, Angels with Dirty Faces (2016)
Image sources:
Unknown