SAINTS v DEVILS

I would like to announce that I have been to watch Southampton FC (The Saints) play in a football league game, played at The Dell, but a while ago. It was against Manchester United (The Red Devils), so I was keen to watch the recent Premier League match between the two clubs this afternoon. It was at Southampton's "newish stadium, St Mary's, so I thought why not look the fixture up and find a few fascinating facts. https://www.southamptonfc.com/saints-history/history/st-marys-fc

Their first meeting was in 1897 on February 13th; 8,000 in the crowd watched an FA Cup tie, Rd 2 which resulted in a 1-1 draw at Southampton, St Mary's, their original name and then 4 days later at Newton Heath (United's original name) when Newton Heath won the replay, 3-1.  Newton Heath lost the next round (last 8) to Derby 2-0.

Previously, in Round One of the Cup, Southampton St Mary's had beaten Heanor Town (Derbyshire), after a 1-1 draw, 0-1. Before that in the Qualfying Rd 5 v Swindon Town they had a win 8-2 at home, before that in QRd 4 v Reading away a 1-4 wn, in Qualifying R3 at COWES, Isle of Wight won 0-6 (PLEASE NOTE BLOG CONTINUITY HERE!!) although not by time!

Their next meeting in March 1923, was with by now, Manchester United, a league match in Football League Division 2 at Old Trafford,  won by the Saints 1-2. In 1938 there was a League 2 match resulting in a 3-3 draw, and remarkably, they did not meet again until 40 years later on 27th April 1963, in Manchester in an FA Cup semi-final at Villa Park, United winning 1-0 in front of over 63,000 crowd. 

The first League Division One meeting was on 19th November 1966 at Southampton resulting in 1-2. In 1974/5 season they were both in LD2 and on 26th Oct United won 1-0 at home and on April 5th 1975 United won again, 0-1 away.

Their first meeting in the Premier League was on 24th August 1992 at The Dell, United winning 0-1. 

Today they drew 1-1 at St Mary's.

The largest score between the two occurred in February 1921 when United won at home 9-0 Southampton's largest win was a 6-3 on 26th October 1996 at home 6-3, one of those Beckham moments.

In all fixtures, Southampton has won 28, lost 67 and drawn 35. On 26th October 1996 Southampton beat United 6-3, at home, which caused a bit of a stir!

Manchester United met Southampton in the FA Cup Final at Wembley on May 1st 1976. United had finished 3rd in the First Division that season, and were strong favourites, while unfancied Southampton had finished 6th in the Second Division. In one of the biggest shocks in the history of the final; Southampton won 1–0 through an 83rd-minute goal from LOCAL LAD, Bobby Stokes, below scoring, (who died on May 30th 1950). It was the first time Southampton won a major trophy. Ref? Clive Thomas.