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IT WILL be one of the biggest games in Saints’ history.
The EFL Cup final, held next week, will be the third major cup final at Wembley that the football team has ever played in.
However, for Saints supporters there aren’t many games more iconic that the ‘76 FA Cup.
Older fans can tell you exactly where they were when Saints sealed the biggest victory that the club has ever seen.
Now, 40 years on, fans find themselves hoping that, the ultimate underdogs can rise to the occasion and beat Manchester United again at Wembley.
One Southampton grandfather’s prize possession is his huge collection of memorabilia from the FA cup.
Paul Thomas, 51, was given the items by his mother who was working for suppliers, SoNew, who provided stock for newsagents around the South.
Paul’s family began collecting items and his mother Barbra purchased lots of merchandise from the company.
Although the items were extremely popular, there were lots of red sports bags left over, which Paul took into school and sold to his fellow students at Redbridge school.
“We managed to sell in the region of about 500 bags, only for 50p each.
“Mum then took the money to the company and they gave us loads of merchandise as a well done.”
Paul has supported Saints all of his life and will be watching the EFL Cup final with his sons Shane and Mark, as well as grandson Owen.
Paul, a gourmet food supplier, invited football legends, Lawrie McMenemy and David Armstrong to see his collection at Concorde Club, yesterday.
Lawrie, the manager who helped Saints secure the biggest cup win in the club’s history, had not seen many of the items.
The souvenirs included mirrors, tea towels, programs and even signed china plates with Lawrie’s signature in the middle.
“I have never seen some of the items Paul brought today.
“We were the underdogs in ‘76, everyone expected Man United to be in the final and to win, but we won and we are going to do the same again.
“Cup finals are what its all about for both players and fans.
“Whatever happens, Wembley will be a fantastic day for the fans.
“The game was so special to the city, even if you weren’t at Wembley, you can remember where you watched it.”
Saints’ allocation of tickets for the final has sold out, but Echo readers still have a chance of winning two tickets by entering our competition, which closes at midnight tonight.
David Armstrong, the former Saints footballer said: “I watched the ‘76 cup final up in the North East, everyone wants to see the underdogs win.
“I think it is the same for anyone who is neutral for this game.
“As a player you go out and entertain the fans, they work hard to save money to come to these games – it is their day.”
Paul said he does not know how much the memorabilia is worth, but he would not sell it unless it was for a significant sum.
“It means too much to me to just sell on, I would rather keep it.
“It feels like it did when I was eleven, lets just hope they can do the same,” said Paul.
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