Southampton fans have walked a rocky road over the past 15 years – from relegation battles to a cup final to entering administration. But the latest chapter has been nothing but positive. Having clinched promotion back to the Championship, the champagne is flowing on the South Coast.
Finishing second in League One with a whopping 92 points is no small feat, but more important is the fact that Southampton have begun their surge back towards the Premier League, where a club with such a loyal fan base and proud history belongs.
It is all too easy to cling to former triumphs and fail to adjust expectations after a sudden dip in fortunes such as the one that saw the club fall to the third tier of English football and slip into administration. However, Southampton seem to be juggling these challenges expertly now, accepting that times have changed while realising that the memories from their spell in the top flight can be a key motivating factor.
Flash back to October 1996 and Saints were busy putting together a stunning 6-3 victory against Manchester United, who repeatedly faltered on their trips to The Dell. That afternoon, a team including Peter Schmeichel, Roy Keane and Eric Cantona were left shellshocked by the wizardry of Eyal Berkovic and club legend Matt Le Tissier.
And who could forget the stunning late comeback at home to Liverpool in August 2000. Trailing 3-0 with less than 20 minutes to go, Southampton stunned the Reds to snatch a draw courtesy of Marian Pahars’ late equaliser. That day, supporters witnessed the end-to-end drama of Premier League football at its very best.
Then there was the bold run to the 2003 FA Cup final under Gordon Strachan, who got the very best from James Beattie and the central defensive partnership of Claus Lundekvam and Michael Svensson. Roared on by passionate travelling supporters, Saints gave Arsenal all they could handle at the Millennium Stadium only losing 1-0.
But, while the stars of the past have helped to shape Southampton’s history, the current crop are on the way to creating new memories. With 28 wins – including 12 on their travels – Nigel Adkins’ players put in an exceptional effort. And St. Mary’s, a stadium worthy of gracing the Premier League again, became a fortress once more as Saints racked up 16 home victories.
The spark typically came from the team’s younger contingent, who have attracted much interest from both Championship and Premier League sides. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, a 17-year-old youth product, has caught the eye of Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal with his lively displays out wide, while 22-year-old Adam Lallana has developed into a talented goalscoring midfielder, earning a place in Stuart Pearce’s England Under-21 squad.
This is no coincidence. The Southampton youth system has rightly earned praise over the past decade, having set Wayne Bridge, Theo Walcott and Gareth Bale on the path to the top flight and the international stage. All three have made their mark, with Bale winning this season’s PFA Player of the Year award.
Adkins has reaped the benefits of matching his young core with more experienced heads. Centre back Radhi Jaidi’s years under Sam Allardyce at Bolton helped Southampton boast the league’s best defensive record while Ricky Lambert, a proven football league performer, confirmed his quality by passing the 20-goal mark.
As the Saints manager admits, it is no cliché to say that this was first and foremost a team effort. “We said when we came in ‘together as one’ and the whole football club is united and it’s great,” Adkins explained. “You saw the emotion on the pitch and great credit to the players because they’ve been so professional since I’ve been here.
“They are an honest, hardworking group and they deserve to celebrate because they’ve achieved something very special this year.”
The Premier League is the next target for Southampton’s young upstarts. It would be too much to expect Adkins’ squad to compete for immediate promotion but, if key players can be persuaded to buy into the long-term plan, Saints might just be back to test Manchester United again in the near future.
