1896–97 Southampton St. Mary's F.C. season
Encyclopedia
The 1896–97 season was the twelfth since the foundation of Southampton St. Mary's F.C. and their third in league football, as members of the Southern League
. The season was the most successful yet, with St. Mary's claiming the Southern League title for the first time and reaching the Second Round Proper of the FA Cup. It was the start of the most successful period in the club's history — in a period of eight years, they were Southern League champions six times and reached the final of the FA Cup
twice.
in April 1896, St. Mary's were forced to look for a new home. Thanks to the connections of their president Dr. H. W. R. Bencraft
, who was also Hon. Secretary to Hampshire County Cricket Club
, the club secured the use of The County Ground
, at an annual rental of £200.
As St. Mary's were unrestricted by the maximum wages rule of the Football League
they were able to "poach" players from League clubs by offering them higher pay. During the close-season, the Saints' committee signed several players who were keen to earn more money in the Southern League. Amongst the recruits were Robert Buchanan
from Woolwich Arsenal and Harry Haynes
from Small Heath, but the most significant signing was goalkeeper George Clawley
who was signed from Stoke and began a long and illustrious career with the Saints.
Charles Robson
resigned as secretary and was replaced by Alfred McMinn
with Bill Dawson continuing as trainer and Ernest Arnfield
becoming Assistant Secretary. The team kit was changed from red and white halves to red and white striped shirts with blue shorts; this basic design was to remain unchanged until the 1970s.
was the Saints' third in the Southern League, having finished in third place in each of the previous two seasons. The team started the league season with a run of nine consecutive victories, including defeating Sheppey United
6–1, New Brompton
8–3 and Reading
6–0 (all at home). From the New Year onwards, results were less predictable with the season often interrupted by the weather and the demands of the FA Cup, but the team remained undefeated throughout the league season finishing as champions, four points ahead of the defending champions, Millwall Athletic.
The championship was secured only in the penultimate match of the season on 14 April, a 2–1 victory over bottom club, Wolverton
, with the two points earned putting St. Mary's out of the reach of their nearest rivals, Millwall. When the team returned by train to Southampton, they were greeted by a crowd, estimated at up to 15,000, at the Docks station accompanied by the police band.
The final match of the season was at the County Ground, against Millwall Athletic; Saints were anxious to maintain their unbeaten record and Millwall, who had gone through the 1894-95 season
unbeaten, were equally keen to prevent the Saints from emulating that achievement. Millwall scored first early in the match, but Southampton fought back to equalise with a "brilliant shot" from Joe Turner
following one of his "mesmerising dashes down the wing".
As team captain, Farrell received the Championship shield from Dr. Russell Bencraft
, who was both president of the League and of the club, at a ceremony in the Artillery Drill Hall in Southampton. Each player received a gold medal, with mementoes also being presented to trainer Dawson and his assistant, Joyce.
Played = Matches played; Won = Matches won; Drawn = Matches drawn; Lost = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GA = Goal average; Points = Points scored
1 Teams tied on points were separated by use of goal average.
2 The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for a defeat.
In the Second Qualifying Round, St. Mary's were drawn away to their local rivals, Cowes. Several thousand travelled to the Isle of Wight
to see the "Saints" comprehensively outplay Cowes, with Robert Buchanan
, Jack Farrell
and Joe Turner
each scoring twice in a 6–0 victory. St. Mary's had to travel again in the next round, to visit Elm Park
; on arriving at the stadium, the team found the pitch waterlogged. McMinn lodged a protest with the referee, who declared the pitch playable so the match went ahead with the Saints winning 4–1. As had happened several times before with matches between the two clubs, Reading
protested to the FA who declared that the result should stand.
The next round brought a home tie against Swindon Town
; despite Swindon scoring first, the Saints then ran riot with eight goals, with Farrell scoring a hat-trick
. This put Southampton through to the First Round Proper for the third consecutive season, where they met Derbyshire club, Heanor Town
. After a draw at the County Ground, the teams met in a replay on the following Wednesday. Heanor lost their winger, Hardy, with a broken leg and the Saints went through with a single goal from Farrell. Following the match, The Southern Daily Echo
set up a fund for Hardy which raised £40.
In the Second Round, the Saints met Football League opposition with a tie against Newton Heath
. A crowd of 8,000 saw St. Mary's hold their opponents to a 1–1 draw at the County Ground. Willie Naughton
was injured for the replay and was replaced by James Spellacy, who was making his only first-team appearance; Naughton was badly missed and the Saints went out of the cup to goals from Bryant and Cassidy.
On 22 March, they entertained a team for Sheffield Wednesday
, who had defeated them in the previous season's FA Cup. This time, the Saints were victorious, by four goals to one. There were also victories over Darwen
(2–0), Blackburn Rovers
(4–1) and Derby County
(7–3) with only Woolwich Arsenal winning, with a 5–1 scoreline.
, who had ended the 1896–97 season in a crisis, having been denied promotion to the Southern League First Division after they had used a player whose transfer had not been registered. As a result, the club was thrown into turmoil with both the treasurer and secretary resigning. At Freemantle's 1897 A.G.M.
it was revealed that the club was in debt by over £200, and plans to incorporate the club into a limited company
were abandoned.
At St. Mary's meanwhile, a sub-committee had been established to look into playing arrangements for the 1897–98 season, as the cost of hiring the County Ground from the Cricket club was prohibitive. The sub-committee's main brief was to negotiate terms for a further season at the County Ground, but it was also proposed that "enquiries be made as to the Freemantle ground".
At the Freemantle AGM on 21 May, the chairman produced a pamphlet proposing a merger with St. Mary's; although some club members objected to the proposal being discussed in the absence of the club president, Tankerville Chamberlayne
(Member of Parliament
for Southampton
), it was agreed to meet with St. Mary's to discuss the proposals. The idea of a merger between the two clubs had attractions, especially as the rent on Freemantle's ground at Shirley
was only £24 p.a. compared to £200 at the County Ground. Although delegations from both sides met to discuss the proposals, there was strong opposition and after much deliberation the St Mary's committee decided not to proceed.
On 11 June, the A.G.M. of St. Mary's agreed to reconstitute the club as a limited liability company
. The members were also informed that "the committee had a ground in view". The ground, it emerged, was an abandoned, partly excavated, railway cutting known as "the dell".
was appointed as Hon. Secretary with Ernest Arnfield
becoming "financial secretary or treasurer". Dr. Stancomb was charged with making the arrangements for the transfer from "St. Mary's F.C."
At a further meeting at the offices of the club's lawyers on 16 July, arrangements were made for the issue of shares, with Tankerville Chamberlayne
being invited on to the board. By the time of the issue of the Memorandum of Association, R.B. Horne (dairyman), W. Newnham (law clerk), Edward Brown (butcher) and Charles Robson
(mineral water merchant and wicket-keeper
for Hampshire
, who had been the St. Mary's club secretary in 1895–96
) had been added to the list of directors.
One result of the change to limited company status was that, subject to approval from the Football Association, the club would in future be known as Southampton Football Club.
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
. The season was the most successful yet, with St. Mary's claiming the Southern League title for the first time and reaching the Second Round Proper of the FA Cup. It was the start of the most successful period in the club's history — in a period of eight years, they were Southern League champions six times and reached the final of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
twice.
Pre-season
Following the closure of the Antelope GroundAntelope Ground
The Antelope Ground, Southampton was a sports ground that was the first home of both Hampshire County Cricket Club, who played there prior to 1884, and of Southampton Football Club, who played there from 1887 to 1896 as "Southampton St...
in April 1896, St. Mary's were forced to look for a new home. Thanks to the connections of their president Dr. H. W. R. Bencraft
Russell Bencraft
Sir Henry William Russell Bencraft CBE MRCS, LRCP was an English cricketer, cricket administrator and medical practitioner. He was born at Southampton, Hampshire.-Hampshire County Cricket Club:...
, who was also Hon. Secretary to Hampshire County Cricket Club
Hampshire County Cricket Club
Hampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...
, the club secured the use of The County Ground
County Ground, Southampton
The County Ground in Southampton, England was a former cricket and football ground. It was the home of Hampshire County Cricket Club from the 1885 English cricket season until the 2000 English cricket season...
, at an annual rental of £200.
As St. Mary's were unrestricted by the maximum wages rule of the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
they were able to "poach" players from League clubs by offering them higher pay. During the close-season, the Saints' committee signed several players who were keen to earn more money in the Southern League. Amongst the recruits were Robert Buchanan
Robert Buchanan (footballer)
Robert John Buchanan was a Scottish international footballer who played as a forward in the 1890s.-Early career:Born in Johnstone, he started his career as a youth player with Johnstone before joining Abercorn in 1887...
from Woolwich Arsenal and Harry Haynes
Harry Haynes
Harry Haynes was an English footballer who played as a full back for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Small Heath and Southampton in the 1890s.-Midlands:...
from Small Heath, but the most significant signing was goalkeeper George Clawley
George Clawley
George Clawley was an English professional goalkeeper who played for Stoke, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries...
who was signed from Stoke and began a long and illustrious career with the Saints.
Charles Robson
Charles Robson
Charles Robson was an English cricketer, who played as a wicket-keeper for Middlesex between 1881 and 1883, and for Hampshire from 1891 to 1906, for whom he served as captain for three years from 1900 to 1902....
resigned as secretary and was replaced by Alfred McMinn
Alfred McMinn
Alfred McMinn, was an English manager for Southampton F.C. from August 1896 to May 1897.-References:...
with Bill Dawson continuing as trainer and Ernest Arnfield
Ernest Arnfield
Ernest Arnfield was the secretary/manager of Southampton F.C. from 1897 to 1911, and again from 1912 to 1919.-Honours:Southampton*Southern League champions: 1897–98, 1898–99, 1900–01, 1902–03 and 1903–04*FA Cup finalists: 1900 and 1902-References:...
becoming Assistant Secretary. The team kit was changed from red and white halves to red and white striped shirts with blue shorts; this basic design was to remain unchanged until the 1970s.
League season
The 1896–97 seasonSouthern Football League 1896-97
The 1896-97 season was the third in the history of the Southern League. Southampton St.Mary's won the Division One championship.-Division One:Division One featured five new clubs:*Gravesend United *Northfleet...
was the Saints' third in the Southern League, having finished in third place in each of the previous two seasons. The team started the league season with a run of nine consecutive victories, including defeating Sheppey United
Sheppey United F.C.
Sheppey United F.C. is an English football club based on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent. The club are currently members of Division One of the Kent County League and play at the Sheppey Sports Ground.-History:...
6–1, New Brompton
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
8–3 and Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
6–0 (all at home). From the New Year onwards, results were less predictable with the season often interrupted by the weather and the demands of the FA Cup, but the team remained undefeated throughout the league season finishing as champions, four points ahead of the defending champions, Millwall Athletic.
The championship was secured only in the penultimate match of the season on 14 April, a 2–1 victory over bottom club, Wolverton
Wolverton A.F.C.
Wolverton Association Football Club, often known simply as Wolverton, was an English football team representing the town of Wolverton . The club's motto was "In Omnia Paratus" . The club was wound up in 1992...
, with the two points earned putting St. Mary's out of the reach of their nearest rivals, Millwall. When the team returned by train to Southampton, they were greeted by a crowd, estimated at up to 15,000, at the Docks station accompanied by the police band.
The train was late and the crowd increased. When the team stepped on the platform the "Southampton whisper" (a shout, with great vigour, of "Yi! Yi! Yi!") gained such volume that it almost raised the station roof.The team were then put into wagons and, with the band playing, were led by the crowd through the town to Kingsland Square where, after the band played the National Anthem, the crowd eventually dispersed.
The final match of the season was at the County Ground, against Millwall Athletic; Saints were anxious to maintain their unbeaten record and Millwall, who had gone through the 1894-95 season
Southern Football League 1894-95
The 1894-95 season was the first in the history of the Southern League. Sixteen clubs joined the new league, which was split into two divisions...
unbeaten, were equally keen to prevent the Saints from emulating that achievement. Millwall scored first early in the match, but Southampton fought back to equalise with a "brilliant shot" from Joe Turner
Joe Turner (footballer)
Joseph Turner was a professional footballer who played in the 1902 FA Cup final for Southampton. Southampton were a Southern League club at the time, and their feat was all the more remarkable in that they had already been losing finalists two years earlier...
following one of his "mesmerising dashes down the wing".
As team captain, Farrell received the Championship shield from Dr. Russell Bencraft
Russell Bencraft
Sir Henry William Russell Bencraft CBE MRCS, LRCP was an English cricketer, cricket administrator and medical practitioner. He was born at Southampton, Hampshire.-Hampshire County Cricket Club:...
, who was both president of the League and of the club, at a ceremony in the Artillery Drill Hall in Southampton. Each player received a gold medal, with mementoes also being presented to trainer Dawson and his assistant, Joyce.
League results
| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F – A |
Scorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 September 1896 | Chatham Town Chatham Town F.C. Chatham Town are an English Association Football club based in Chatham, Kent. They currently play in Division One North of the Isthmian League and are nicknamed "The Chats".... |
H | 4 – 1 | Farrell Jack Farrell (footballer) John "Jack" Farrell was an English professional footballer who played as a forward. Farrell played in the Football League for Stoke and New Brighton Tower and played a major part in Southern league club Southampton's major cup runs at the turn of the 20th Century.-Early career:Farrell was born in... (2), Buchanan Robert Buchanan (footballer) Robert John Buchanan was a Scottish international footballer who played as a forward in the 1890s.-Early career:Born in Johnstone, he started his career as a youth player with Johnstone before joining Abercorn in 1887... , Turner Joe Turner (footballer) Joseph Turner was a professional footballer who played in the 1902 FA Cup final for Southampton. Southampton were a Southern League club at the time, and their feat was all the more remarkable in that they had already been losing finalists two years earlier... |
| 26 September 1896 | Sheppey United Sheppey United F.C. Sheppey United F.C. is an English football club based on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent. The club are currently members of Division One of the Kent County League and play at the Sheppey Sports Ground.-History:... |
H | 6 – 1 | Buchanan Robert Buchanan (footballer) Robert John Buchanan was a Scottish international footballer who played as a forward in the 1890s.-Early career:Born in Johnstone, he started his career as a youth player with Johnstone before joining Abercorn in 1887... (3), Meston Samuel Meston Samuel Meston was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a half-back for Stoke and Southampton. Whilst with Southampton, he appeared in two FA Cup Finals and won six Southern League championship medals and was the only player ever to do so.-Playing career:Meston was born in Arbroath and... (2), Turner Joe Turner (footballer) Joseph Turner was a professional footballer who played in the 1902 FA Cup final for Southampton. Southampton were a Southern League club at the time, and their feat was all the more remarkable in that they had already been losing finalists two years earlier... |
| 18 October 1896 | Wolverton L & NWR Wolverton A.F.C. Wolverton Association Football Club, often known simply as Wolverton, was an English football team representing the town of Wolverton . The club's motto was "In Omnia Paratus" . The club was wound up in 1992... |
H | 5 – 2 | Buchanan Robert Buchanan (footballer) Robert John Buchanan was a Scottish international footballer who played as a forward in the 1890s.-Early career:Born in Johnstone, he started his career as a youth player with Johnstone before joining Abercorn in 1887... , Farrell Jack Farrell (footballer) John "Jack" Farrell was an English professional footballer who played as a forward. Farrell played in the Football League for Stoke and New Brighton Tower and played a major part in Southern league club Southampton's major cup runs at the turn of the 20th Century.-Early career:Farrell was born in... , Haynes Harry Haynes Harry Haynes was an English footballer who played as a full back for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Small Heath and Southampton in the 1890s.-Midlands:... , Meston Samuel Meston Samuel Meston was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a half-back for Stoke and Southampton. Whilst with Southampton, he appeared in two FA Cup Finals and won six Southern League championship medals and was the only player ever to do so.-Playing career:Meston was born in Arbroath and... , Turner Joe Turner (footballer) Joseph Turner was a professional footballer who played in the 1902 FA Cup final for Southampton. Southampton were a Southern League club at the time, and their feat was all the more remarkable in that they had already been losing finalists two years earlier... |
| 24 October 1896 | Northfleet | A | 2 – 1 | Farrell Jack Farrell (footballer) John "Jack" Farrell was an English professional footballer who played as a forward. Farrell played in the Football League for Stoke and New Brighton Tower and played a major part in Southern league club Southampton's major cup runs at the turn of the 20th Century.-Early career:Farrell was born in... , McMillan John McMillan (footballer born 1865) John McMillan was a Scottish professional footballer who played at half-back for Heart of Midlothian and Southampton in the 1890s.-Football career:... |
| 7 November 1896 | New Brompton Gillingham F.C. Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium... |
H | 8 – 3 | Naughton Willie Naughton William A. "Willie" Naughton was a Scottish professional footballer, who played as an outside-forward for various clubs in Scotland and England in the 1880s and 1890s, including Celtic, Stoke and Southampton... (3), Buchanan Robert Buchanan (footballer) Robert John Buchanan was a Scottish international footballer who played as a forward in the 1890s.-Early career:Born in Johnstone, he started his career as a youth player with Johnstone before joining Abercorn in 1887... (2), Littlehales Alf Littlehales Alfred "Alf" Littlehales was an English professional footballer who played at centre-half for Southampton in the 1890s.-Football career:... (2), Farrell Jack Farrell (footballer) John "Jack" Farrell was an English professional footballer who played as a forward. Farrell played in the Football League for Stoke and New Brighton Tower and played a major part in Southern league club Southampton's major cup runs at the turn of the 20th Century.-Early career:Farrell was born in... |
| 14 November 1896 | Reading Reading F.C. Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship... |
H | 6 – 0 | Turner Joe Turner (footballer) Joseph Turner was a professional footballer who played in the 1902 FA Cup final for Southampton. Southampton were a Southern League club at the time, and their feat was all the more remarkable in that they had already been losing finalists two years earlier... (2), Hodgkinson John Hodgkinson (footballer) John Hodgkinson was an English professional footballer who played at half-back for Southampton and New Brompton in the 1890s.-Football career:... , Keay Watty Keay Walter "Watty" Keay was a Scottish professional footballer who played as an inside forward for various clubs, including Partick Thistle in Scotland and Derby County and Southampton in England... , Naughton Willie Naughton William A. "Willie" Naughton was a Scottish professional footballer, who played as an outside-forward for various clubs in Scotland and England in the 1880s and 1890s, including Celtic, Stoke and Southampton... , Own goal Own goal An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents.... |
| 28 November 1896 | Sheppey United Sheppey United F.C. Sheppey United F.C. is an English football club based on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent. The club are currently members of Division One of the Kent County League and play at the Sheppey Sports Ground.-History:... |
A | 1 – 0 | Own goal Own goal An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents.... |
| 5 December 1896 | Swindon Town Swindon Town F.C. Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011... |
A | 2 – 0 | Farrell Jack Farrell (footballer) John "Jack" Farrell was an English professional footballer who played as a forward. Farrell played in the Football League for Stoke and New Brighton Tower and played a major part in Southern league club Southampton's major cup runs at the turn of the 20th Century.-Early career:Farrell was born in... , Naughton Willie Naughton William A. "Willie" Naughton was a Scottish professional footballer, who played as an outside-forward for various clubs in Scotland and England in the 1880s and 1890s, including Celtic, Stoke and Southampton... |
| 19 December 1896 | Chatham Town Chatham Town F.C. Chatham Town are an English Association Football club based in Chatham, Kent. They currently play in Division One North of the Isthmian League and are nicknamed "The Chats".... |
A | 1 – 0 | Turner Joe Turner (footballer) Joseph Turner was a professional footballer who played in the 1902 FA Cup final for Southampton. Southampton were a Southern League club at the time, and their feat was all the more remarkable in that they had already been losing finalists two years earlier... |
| 16 January 1897 | Gravesend United Gravesend United F.C. Gravesend United Football Club was a football club based in Gravesend, Kent.They were founder members of the Kent League in 1894-95 before moving to join the Southern League in 1896-97... |
A | 1 – 1 | Meston Samuel Meston Samuel Meston was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a half-back for Stoke and Southampton. Whilst with Southampton, he appeared in two FA Cup Finals and won six Southern League championship medals and was the only player ever to do so.-Playing career:Meston was born in Arbroath and... |
| 6 February 1897 | New Brompton Gillingham F.C. Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium... |
A | 3 – 1 | Farrell Jack Farrell (footballer) John "Jack" Farrell was an English professional footballer who played as a forward. Farrell played in the Football League for Stoke and New Brighton Tower and played a major part in Southern league club Southampton's major cup runs at the turn of the 20th Century.-Early career:Farrell was born in... , Shenton, Turner Joe Turner (footballer) Joseph Turner was a professional footballer who played in the 1902 FA Cup final for Southampton. Southampton were a Southern League club at the time, and their feat was all the more remarkable in that they had already been losing finalists two years earlier... |
| 27 February 1897 | Swindon Town Swindon Town F.C. Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011... |
H | 2 – 0 | Farrell Jack Farrell (footballer) John "Jack" Farrell was an English professional footballer who played as a forward. Farrell played in the Football League for Stoke and New Brighton Tower and played a major part in Southern league club Southampton's major cup runs at the turn of the 20th Century.-Early career:Farrell was born in... , Turner Joe Turner (footballer) Joseph Turner was a professional footballer who played in the 1902 FA Cup final for Southampton. Southampton were a Southern League club at the time, and their feat was all the more remarkable in that they had already been losing finalists two years earlier... |
| 6 March 1897 | Millwall Athletic Millwall F.C. Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the... |
A | 0 – 0 | |
| 13 March 1897 | Northfleet | H | 6 – 2 | Farrell Jack Farrell (footballer) John "Jack" Farrell was an English professional footballer who played as a forward. Farrell played in the Football League for Stoke and New Brighton Tower and played a major part in Southern league club Southampton's major cup runs at the turn of the 20th Century.-Early career:Farrell was born in... (2), Keay Watty Keay Walter "Watty" Keay was a Scottish professional footballer who played as an inside forward for various clubs, including Partick Thistle in Scotland and Derby County and Southampton in England... (2), Buchanan Robert Buchanan (footballer) Robert John Buchanan was a Scottish international footballer who played as a forward in the 1890s.-Early career:Born in Johnstone, he started his career as a youth player with Johnstone before joining Abercorn in 1887... , Turner Joe Turner (footballer) Joseph Turner was a professional footballer who played in the 1902 FA Cup final for Southampton. Southampton were a Southern League club at the time, and their feat was all the more remarkable in that they had already been losing finalists two years earlier... |
| 29 March 1897 | Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane.... |
H | 1 – 1 | Littlehales Alf Littlehales Alfred "Alf" Littlehales was an English professional footballer who played at centre-half for Southampton in the 1890s.-Football career:... |
| 31 March 1897 | Reading Reading F.C. Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship... |
A | 5 – 1 | Buchanan Robert Buchanan (footballer) Robert John Buchanan was a Scottish international footballer who played as a forward in the 1890s.-Early career:Born in Johnstone, he started his career as a youth player with Johnstone before joining Abercorn in 1887... , Farrell Jack Farrell (footballer) John "Jack" Farrell was an English professional footballer who played as a forward. Farrell played in the Football League for Stoke and New Brighton Tower and played a major part in Southern league club Southampton's major cup runs at the turn of the 20th Century.-Early career:Farrell was born in... , Haynes Harry Haynes Harry Haynes was an English footballer who played as a full back for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Small Heath and Southampton in the 1890s.-Midlands:... , Littlehales Alf Littlehales Alfred "Alf" Littlehales was an English professional footballer who played at centre-half for Southampton in the 1890s.-Football career:... , Turner Joe Turner (footballer) Joseph Turner was a professional footballer who played in the 1902 FA Cup final for Southampton. Southampton were a Southern League club at the time, and their feat was all the more remarkable in that they had already been losing finalists two years earlier... |
| 8 April 1897 | Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane.... |
A | 2 – 2 | Farrell Jack Farrell (footballer) John "Jack" Farrell was an English professional footballer who played as a forward. Farrell played in the Football League for Stoke and New Brighton Tower and played a major part in Southern league club Southampton's major cup runs at the turn of the 20th Century.-Early career:Farrell was born in... , Keay Watty Keay Walter "Watty" Keay was a Scottish professional footballer who played as an inside forward for various clubs, including Partick Thistle in Scotland and Derby County and Southampton in England... |
| 10 April 1897 | Gravesend United Gravesend United F.C. Gravesend United Football Club was a football club based in Gravesend, Kent.They were founder members of the Kent League in 1894-95 before moving to join the Southern League in 1896-97... |
H | 5 – 0 | Buchanan Robert Buchanan (footballer) Robert John Buchanan was a Scottish international footballer who played as a forward in the 1890s.-Early career:Born in Johnstone, he started his career as a youth player with Johnstone before joining Abercorn in 1887... (2), Farrell Jack Farrell (footballer) John "Jack" Farrell was an English professional footballer who played as a forward. Farrell played in the Football League for Stoke and New Brighton Tower and played a major part in Southern league club Southampton's major cup runs at the turn of the 20th Century.-Early career:Farrell was born in... , Naughton Willie Naughton William A. "Willie" Naughton was a Scottish professional footballer, who played as an outside-forward for various clubs in Scotland and England in the 1880s and 1890s, including Celtic, Stoke and Southampton... , Turner Joe Turner (footballer) Joseph Turner was a professional footballer who played in the 1902 FA Cup final for Southampton. Southampton were a Southern League club at the time, and their feat was all the more remarkable in that they had already been losing finalists two years earlier... |
| 14 April 1897 | Wolverton L & NWR Wolverton A.F.C. Wolverton Association Football Club, often known simply as Wolverton, was an English football team representing the town of Wolverton . The club's motto was "In Omnia Paratus" . The club was wound up in 1992... |
A | 2 – 1 | Keay Watty Keay Walter "Watty" Keay was a Scottish professional footballer who played as an inside forward for various clubs, including Partick Thistle in Scotland and Derby County and Southampton in England... , Littlehales Alf Littlehales Alfred "Alf" Littlehales was an English professional footballer who played at centre-half for Southampton in the 1890s.-Football career:... |
| 8 April 1897 | Millwall Athletic Millwall F.C. Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the... |
H | 1 – 1 | Turner Joe Turner (footballer) Joseph Turner was a professional footballer who played in the 1902 FA Cup final for Southampton. Southampton were a Southern League club at the time, and their feat was all the more remarkable in that they had already been losing finalists two years earlier... |
Legend
| Win | Draw | Loss |
Top of league table
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | GA1 | Points 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southampton St Mary's | 20 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 63 | 18 | 3.50 | 35 |
| 2 | Millwall Athletic | 20 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 63 | 24 | 2.63 | 31 |
| 3 | Chatham Town | 20 | 13 | 1 | 6 | 54 | 29 | 1.86 | 27 |
Played = Matches played; Won = Matches won; Drawn = Matches drawn; Lost = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GA = Goal average; Points = Points scored
1 Teams tied on points were separated by use of goal average.
2 The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for a defeat.
FA Cup
As the Saints had reached the First Round Proper in each of the previous two seasons, the FA exempted them from the first of the four qualifying rounds of the FA Cup.In the Second Qualifying Round, St. Mary's were drawn away to their local rivals, Cowes. Several thousand travelled to the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
to see the "Saints" comprehensively outplay Cowes, with Robert Buchanan
Robert Buchanan (footballer)
Robert John Buchanan was a Scottish international footballer who played as a forward in the 1890s.-Early career:Born in Johnstone, he started his career as a youth player with Johnstone before joining Abercorn in 1887...
, Jack Farrell
Jack Farrell (footballer)
John "Jack" Farrell was an English professional footballer who played as a forward. Farrell played in the Football League for Stoke and New Brighton Tower and played a major part in Southern league club Southampton's major cup runs at the turn of the 20th Century.-Early career:Farrell was born in...
and Joe Turner
Joe Turner (footballer)
Joseph Turner was a professional footballer who played in the 1902 FA Cup final for Southampton. Southampton were a Southern League club at the time, and their feat was all the more remarkable in that they had already been losing finalists two years earlier...
each scoring twice in a 6–0 victory. St. Mary's had to travel again in the next round, to visit Elm Park
Elm Park (stadium)
Elm Park was a football stadium in the West Reading district of the English town of Reading. It was the home of Reading Football Club from 1896 until 1998, when they moved to the new Madejski Stadium....
; on arriving at the stadium, the team found the pitch waterlogged. McMinn lodged a protest with the referee, who declared the pitch playable so the match went ahead with the Saints winning 4–1. As had happened several times before with matches between the two clubs, Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
protested to the FA who declared that the result should stand.
The next round brought a home tie against Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
; despite Swindon scoring first, the Saints then ran riot with eight goals, with Farrell scoring a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
. This put Southampton through to the First Round Proper for the third consecutive season, where they met Derbyshire club, Heanor Town
Heanor Town F.C.
Heanor Town Football Club is a football club established in 1883 and based in Heanor, Derbyshire, England. They have reached the First Round proper of the FA Cup six times in their history...
. After a draw at the County Ground, the teams met in a replay on the following Wednesday. Heanor lost their winger, Hardy, with a broken leg and the Saints went through with a single goal from Farrell. Following the match, The Southern Daily Echo
Southern Daily Echo
The Southern Daily Echo, commonly known as the Daily Echo or simply The Echo, is a local newspaper that covers the area of south-central Hampshire, England, including the city of Southampton...
set up a fund for Hardy which raised £40.
In the Second Round, the Saints met Football League opposition with a tie against Newton Heath
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
. A crowd of 8,000 saw St. Mary's hold their opponents to a 1–1 draw at the County Ground. Willie Naughton
Willie Naughton
William A. "Willie" Naughton was a Scottish professional footballer, who played as an outside-forward for various clubs in Scotland and England in the 1880s and 1890s, including Celtic, Stoke and Southampton...
was injured for the replay and was replaced by James Spellacy, who was making his only first-team appearance; Naughton was badly missed and the Saints went out of the cup to goals from Bryant and Cassidy.
| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F – A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 November 1896 | 2nd Qualifying Round | Cowes | A | 6 – 0 | Buchanan Robert Buchanan (footballer) Robert John Buchanan was a Scottish international footballer who played as a forward in the 1890s.-Early career:Born in Johnstone, he started his career as a youth player with Johnstone before joining Abercorn in 1887... (2), Farrell Jack Farrell (footballer) John "Jack" Farrell was an English professional footballer who played as a forward. Farrell played in the Football League for Stoke and New Brighton Tower and played a major part in Southern league club Southampton's major cup runs at the turn of the 20th Century.-Early career:Farrell was born in... (2), Turner Joe Turner (footballer) Joseph Turner was a professional footballer who played in the 1902 FA Cup final for Southampton. Southampton were a Southern League club at the time, and their feat was all the more remarkable in that they had already been losing finalists two years earlier... (2) |
5,000 |
| 12 December 1896 | 3rd Qualifying Round | Reading Reading F.C. Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship... |
A | 4 – 1 | Buchanan Robert Buchanan (footballer) Robert John Buchanan was a Scottish international footballer who played as a forward in the 1890s.-Early career:Born in Johnstone, he started his career as a youth player with Johnstone before joining Abercorn in 1887... (2), Farrell Jack Farrell (footballer) John "Jack" Farrell was an English professional footballer who played as a forward. Farrell played in the Football League for Stoke and New Brighton Tower and played a major part in Southern league club Southampton's major cup runs at the turn of the 20th Century.-Early career:Farrell was born in... , Turner Joe Turner (footballer) Joseph Turner was a professional footballer who played in the 1902 FA Cup final for Southampton. Southampton were a Southern League club at the time, and their feat was all the more remarkable in that they had already been losing finalists two years earlier... |
5,000 |
| 2 January 1897 | 4th Qualifying Round | Swindon Town Swindon Town F.C. Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011... |
H County Ground, Southampton The County Ground in Southampton, England was a former cricket and football ground. It was the home of Hampshire County Cricket Club from the 1885 English cricket season until the 2000 English cricket season... |
8 – 2 | Farrell Jack Farrell (footballer) John "Jack" Farrell was an English professional footballer who played as a forward. Farrell played in the Football League for Stoke and New Brighton Tower and played a major part in Southern league club Southampton's major cup runs at the turn of the 20th Century.-Early career:Farrell was born in... (3), Littlehales Alf Littlehales Alfred "Alf" Littlehales was an English professional footballer who played at centre-half for Southampton in the 1890s.-Football career:... , Hodgkinson John Hodgkinson (footballer) John Hodgkinson was an English professional footballer who played at half-back for Southampton and New Brompton in the 1890s.-Football career:... , Keay Watty Keay Walter "Watty" Keay was a Scottish professional footballer who played as an inside forward for various clubs, including Partick Thistle in Scotland and Derby County and Southampton in England... , Turner Joe Turner (footballer) Joseph Turner was a professional footballer who played in the 1902 FA Cup final for Southampton. Southampton were a Southern League club at the time, and their feat was all the more remarkable in that they had already been losing finalists two years earlier... , Buchanan Robert Buchanan (footballer) Robert John Buchanan was a Scottish international footballer who played as a forward in the 1890s.-Early career:Born in Johnstone, he started his career as a youth player with Johnstone before joining Abercorn in 1887... |
5,000 |
| 30 January 1897 | Round 1 Proper | Heanor Town Heanor Town F.C. Heanor Town Football Club is a football club established in 1883 and based in Heanor, Derbyshire, England. They have reached the First Round proper of the FA Cup six times in their history... |
H County Ground, Southampton The County Ground in Southampton, England was a former cricket and football ground. It was the home of Hampshire County Cricket Club from the 1885 English cricket season until the 2000 English cricket season... |
1 – 1 | Turner Joe Turner (footballer) Joseph Turner was a professional footballer who played in the 1902 FA Cup final for Southampton. Southampton were a Southern League club at the time, and their feat was all the more remarkable in that they had already been losing finalists two years earlier... |
8,500 |
| 3 February 1897 | Round 1 Proper Replay | Heanor Town Heanor Town F.C. Heanor Town Football Club is a football club established in 1883 and based in Heanor, Derbyshire, England. They have reached the First Round proper of the FA Cup six times in their history... |
A | 1 – 0 | Farrell Jack Farrell (footballer) John "Jack" Farrell was an English professional footballer who played as a forward. Farrell played in the Football League for Stoke and New Brighton Tower and played a major part in Southern league club Southampton's major cup runs at the turn of the 20th Century.-Early career:Farrell was born in... |
3,000 |
| 13 February 1897 | Round 2 Proper | Newton Heath Manchester United F.C. Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958... |
H County Ground, Southampton The County Ground in Southampton, England was a former cricket and football ground. It was the home of Hampshire County Cricket Club from the 1885 English cricket season until the 2000 English cricket season... |
1 – 1 | Turner Joe Turner (footballer) Joseph Turner was a professional footballer who played in the 1902 FA Cup final for Southampton. Southampton were a Southern League club at the time, and their feat was all the more remarkable in that they had already been losing finalists two years earlier... |
8,000 |
| 17 February 1897 | Round 2 Proper Replay | Newton Heath Manchester United F.C. Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958... |
A | 1 – 3 | Buchanan Robert Buchanan (footballer) Robert John Buchanan was a Scottish international footballer who played as a forward in the 1890s.-Early career:Born in Johnstone, he started his career as a youth player with Johnstone before joining Abercorn in 1887... |
7,000 |
Friendly matches
With only ten home league matches in the season and the poor weather since Christmas, the Saints' committee organised several friendly matches in order to boost the club's finances. Over the whole season, the team played in excess of thirty friendly matches with a heavy programme of fixtures over Easter and up to the end of April, including several matches against opposition from the Football League.On 22 March, they entertained a team for Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
, who had defeated them in the previous season's FA Cup. This time, the Saints were victorious, by four goals to one. There were also victories over Darwen
Darwen F.C.
A.F.C. Darwen is a football club from Darwen in Lancashire, North West England. The team, formed in 1870 as Darwen F.C., currently play in the Division One of the North West Counties League. They play their home games at the Anchor Ground.-History:...
(2–0), Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
(4–1) and Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
(7–3) with only Woolwich Arsenal winning, with a 5–1 scoreline.
Merger proposals
At this time, the only other local professional football club was FreemantleFreemantle F.C.
Freemantle Football Club were a football club based in the Freemantle area of Southampton who were active at the end of the nineteenth century. During their brief heyday, they were rivals to Southampton Football Club...
, who had ended the 1896–97 season in a crisis, having been denied promotion to the Southern League First Division after they had used a player whose transfer had not been registered. As a result, the club was thrown into turmoil with both the treasurer and secretary resigning. At Freemantle's 1897 A.G.M.
Annual general meeting
An annual general meeting is a meeting that official bodies, and associations involving the public , are often required by law to hold...
it was revealed that the club was in debt by over £200, and plans to incorporate the club into a limited company
Limited company
A limited company is a company in which the liability of the members or subscribers of the company is limited to what they have invested or guaranteed to the company. Limited companies may be limited by shares or by guarantee. And the former of these, a limited company limited by shares, may be...
were abandoned.
At St. Mary's meanwhile, a sub-committee had been established to look into playing arrangements for the 1897–98 season, as the cost of hiring the County Ground from the Cricket club was prohibitive. The sub-committee's main brief was to negotiate terms for a further season at the County Ground, but it was also proposed that "enquiries be made as to the Freemantle ground".
At the Freemantle AGM on 21 May, the chairman produced a pamphlet proposing a merger with St. Mary's; although some club members objected to the proposal being discussed in the absence of the club president, Tankerville Chamberlayne
Tankerville Chamberlayne
Tankerville Chamberlayne was a landowner in Hampshire and a Member of Parliament, serving the Southampton constituency three times, as an Independent and Conservative. Following the 1895 General Election false allegations were made concerning his conduct and this resulted in his being unseated on...
(Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Southampton
Southampton (UK Parliament constituency)
Southampton was a parliamentary constituency which was represented in the British House of Commons. Centred on the town of Southampton, it returned two Members of Parliament from 1295 until it was abolished for the 1950 general election....
), it was agreed to meet with St. Mary's to discuss the proposals. The idea of a merger between the two clubs had attractions, especially as the rent on Freemantle's ground at Shirley
Shirley, Southampton
Shirley is a district on the Western side of Southampton, England. Shirley's main roles are retailing and residential. It is the most important suburban shopping area in the west of the city. Housing is a mixture of council houses in the centre of the district surrounded by private housing, with...
was only £24 p.a. compared to £200 at the County Ground. Although delegations from both sides met to discuss the proposals, there was strong opposition and after much deliberation the St Mary's committee decided not to proceed.
On 11 June, the A.G.M. of St. Mary's agreed to reconstitute the club as a limited liability company
Limited liability company
A limited liability company is a flexible form of enterprise that blends elements of partnership and corporate structures. It is a legal form of company that provides limited liability to its owners in the vast majority of United States jurisdictions...
. The members were also informed that "the committee had a ground in view". The ground, it emerged, was an abandoned, partly excavated, railway cutting known as "the dell".
Limited company
On 8 July 1897, a meeting was held at the Bedford Hotel to agree the structure of the new company, Southampton Football & Athletic Company Limited. The first chairman of the new company was Dr. Ernest Stancomb (medical practitioner), with G.A.E. Hussey (brewer), H.M. Ashton (engineer), George Thomas (fish merchant) and George Payne (butcher) being elected as the first directors. Alfred McMinnAlfred McMinn
Alfred McMinn, was an English manager for Southampton F.C. from August 1896 to May 1897.-References:...
was appointed as Hon. Secretary with Ernest Arnfield
Ernest Arnfield
Ernest Arnfield was the secretary/manager of Southampton F.C. from 1897 to 1911, and again from 1912 to 1919.-Honours:Southampton*Southern League champions: 1897–98, 1898–99, 1900–01, 1902–03 and 1903–04*FA Cup finalists: 1900 and 1902-References:...
becoming "financial secretary or treasurer". Dr. Stancomb was charged with making the arrangements for the transfer from "St. Mary's F.C."
At a further meeting at the offices of the club's lawyers on 16 July, arrangements were made for the issue of shares, with Tankerville Chamberlayne
Tankerville Chamberlayne
Tankerville Chamberlayne was a landowner in Hampshire and a Member of Parliament, serving the Southampton constituency three times, as an Independent and Conservative. Following the 1895 General Election false allegations were made concerning his conduct and this resulted in his being unseated on...
being invited on to the board. By the time of the issue of the Memorandum of Association, R.B. Horne (dairyman), W. Newnham (law clerk), Edward Brown (butcher) and Charles Robson
Charles Robson
Charles Robson was an English cricketer, who played as a wicket-keeper for Middlesex between 1881 and 1883, and for Hampshire from 1891 to 1906, for whom he served as captain for three years from 1900 to 1902....
(mineral water merchant and wicket-keeper
Wicket-keeper
The wicket-keeper in the sport of cricket is the player on the fielding side who stands behind the wicket or stumps being guarded by the batsman currently on strike...
for Hampshire
Hampshire County Cricket Club
Hampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...
, who had been the St. Mary's club secretary in 1895–96
1895–96 Southampton St. Mary's F.C. season
The 1895–96 season was the eleventh since the foundation of Southampton St. Mary's F.C. and their second in league football, as members of the Southern League. They finished the league season in third place behind the previous season's champions, Millwall Athletic, and Luton Town...
) had been added to the list of directors.
One result of the change to limited company status was that, subject to approval from the Football Association, the club would in future be known as Southampton Football Club.
Player statistics
| Position | Nationality | Name | League apps |
League goals |
FA Cup apps |
FA Cup goals |
Total apps |
Total goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FW |  Kingdom of Scotland |
20 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 27 | 17 | |
| GK |  Kingdom of England |
20 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 27 | 0 | |
| GK | Kingdom of England |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| FW | Kingdom of England |
20 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 27 | 20 | |
| FB |  Wales |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| FB | Kingdom of England |
16 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 2 | |
| FW | Kingdom of England |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| HB | Kingdom of England |
13 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 20 | 2 | |
| FW | Kingdom of Scotland |
16 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 23 | 6 | |
| HB | Kingdom of England |
17 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 24 | 6 | |
| FB | Kingdom of Scotland |
8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
| FB | Kingdom of Scotland |
6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
| HB | Kingdom of Scotland |
20 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 27 | 1 | |
| FB | Kingdom of Scotland |
19 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 26 | 4 | |
| FW | Kingdom of Scotland |
16 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 22 | 6 | |
| HB | Kingdom of England |
5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| FW | Kingdom of England |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| FW | Kingdom of England |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| FW | Kingdom of England |
0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| FW | Kingdom of England |
19 | 12 | 7 | 6 | 26 | 18 | |
Key
- GK — Goalkeeper
- FB — Full back
- HB — Half back
- FW — Forward
In
| Date | Position | Name | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 1896 | FW | Robert Buchanan Robert Buchanan (footballer) Robert John Buchanan was a Scottish international footballer who played as a forward in the 1890s.-Early career:Born in Johnstone, he started his career as a youth player with Johnstone before joining Abercorn in 1887... |
Woolwich Arsenal |
| Summer 1896 | GK | George Clawley George Clawley George Clawley was an English professional goalkeeper who played for Stoke, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries... |
Stoke |
| Summer 1896 | FB | Harry Haynes Harry Haynes Harry Haynes was an English footballer who played as a full back for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Small Heath and Southampton in the 1890s.-Midlands:... |
Small Heath |
| Summer 1896 | FB | Donald McKay Donald McKay (footballer) Donald McKay was a Scottish footballer who played as a full-back for Southampton St. Mary's in 1896–97, when they won the Southern League title for the first of six occasions over the next eight years.-Football career:... |
Woolston Works |
| Summer 1896 | FB | James McKie James McKie (Victorian footballer) James McKie was a Scottish footballer who played as a full-back for Southampton St. Mary's in 1896–97, when they won the Southern League title for the first of six occasions over the next eight years.-Football career:... |
Freemantle Freemantle F.C. Freemantle Football Club were a football club based in the Freemantle area of Southampton who were active at the end of the nineteenth century. During their brief heyday, they were rivals to Southampton Football Club... |
| March 1897 | HB | William Ponting William Ponting William Robert Ponting was an English amateur footballer who played as a half-back for Southampton St. Mary's in 1896–97, when they won the Southern League title for the first of six occasions over the next eight years.-Football career:... |
Ryde |
| Summer 1896 | FW | George Seeley George Seeley George Alfred Seeley was an English professional footballer who played for various clubs around the turn of the 20th century, including Southampton in 1898–99, where he helped win the Southern League championship.... |
Local football |
Departures
| Date | Position | Name | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 1896 | FB | Charles Baker Charles Baker (footballer) Charles Baker was an English professional footballer who played as an inside forward in Southampton's inaugural season in the Southern League.-Playing career:... |
Retired |
| April 1896 | GK | Tom Cain Tom Cain Thomas "Tom" Cain was an English footballer who played as goalkeeper for Stoke, Everton and Southampton St. Mary's in the 1890s.-Football career:... |
Grimsby Town Grimsby Town F.C. Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town... |
| Summer 1896 | HB | Jimmy Dale | Retired |
| Summer 1896 | FB | George Marshall George Marshall (footballer) George Marshall was an English amateur footballer who played in defence for Southampton St. Mary's in the 1890s. He was the only player to appear in both Southampton's first-ever FA Cup match and first-ever League match... |
Retired |
| May 1896 | FB | Joe Rogers Joe Rogers (footballer born 1874) Joseph James Rogers was an English professional footballer who played either as a forward or full back for Southampton, Grimsby Town and Newcastle United.-Football career:... |
Grimsby Town Grimsby Town F.C. Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town... |
| Summer 1896 | HB | Ernie Taylor Ernie Taylor (footballer born 1869) Ernest James "Ernie" Taylor was an English amateur footballer who played for Southampton in the club's first two years in the Southern League.-Football career:... |
Freemantle Freemantle F.C. Freemantle Football Club were a football club based in the Freemantle area of Southampton who were active at the end of the nineteenth century. During their brief heyday, they were rivals to Southampton Football Club... |
| Summer 1896 | HB | Lachie Thomson Lachie Thomson W.J.G. "Lachie" Thomson was an English professional footballer who played as a defender for Stoke in the Football League before joining Southampton St Mary's for the inaugural Southern League season in 1894.-Stoke:... |
Cowes |