Southampton F.C.

Southampton Football Club (originally St. Mary's YMA) is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints. Based in the city of Southampton in Hampshire, the team was formed in November 1885. In 1898 the team moved into The Dell, the ground which was to be their home for over 100 years. However, as a result of poor stadium capacity, the team moved to St Mary's Stadium in 2001.

Related Topics:
English football team - Southampton - Hampshire - November - 1885 - 1898 - The Dell - St Mary's Stadium - 2001

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Their finest hour was their FA Cup win in 1976, when they beat Manchester United 1-0. They also were the runners-up in 2003 against Arsenal and runners-up in the 1979 League Cup final against Nottingham Forest.

Related Topics:
FA Cup - 1976 - Manchester United - 2003 - Arsenal - 1979 - League Cup - Nottingham Forest

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Southampton enjoy a fierce rivalry with Portsmouth F.C.; although very much in the shadow of Portsmouth until the 1950s , Southampton have been in a superior division nearly every year from 1960, and have also beaten them in every cup tie in living memory. This derby was recently reignited by Portsmouth's promotion to the Premiership in 2003. However, this is now once again on hold following Southampton's relegation to The Championship in 2005.

Related Topics:
Portsmouth F.C. - The Championship

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On 4 March 2004, Paul Sturrock was named as Southampton's manager, succeeding Gordon Strachan. However, just over five months later, on August 23 2004, it was announced that Sturrock was leaving the club 'by mutual consent', after a disappointing run of form and rumours of boardroom dissatisfaction with his management. He was replaced by Steve Wigley as head coach. However, following a string of 14 Premiership games with only one win under the leadership of Wigley, Harry Redknapp was appointed as manager on December 8 2004, signing an eighteen-month contract. This shocked much of the footballing world as Redknapp had recently resigned as manager of the Saints' arch rivals Portsmouth. Redknapp failed to rejuvenate the Saints, though; tactical naivete and lack of resolve meant a failure to pick up substantial points to escape away from the bottom of the table. As a result, the club has been relegated to the Coca-Cola Football League Championship for the first time in 27 years.

Related Topics:
4 March - 2004 - Paul Sturrock - Gordon Strachan - August 23 - Steve Wigley - Harry Redknapp - December 8 - Portsmouth - Coca-Cola Football League Championship

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After the relegation the club has to make changes to deal with life in championship: Redknapp remains as the manager after the relegation, however, Redknapp's deputy Jim Smith has been cut from the coaching staff. The former England rugby union coach Sir Clive Woodward joined as the technical director for the club.

Related Topics:
Jim Smith - England - Rugby union - Clive Woodward

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