The year 1966 will for ever be etched in the minds of England fans after their World Cup success - but it was also a year that has fond memories for Southampton FC supporters.

It was the year that the the Saints achieved top-flight status for the first time after the Southampton FC was promoted as runner-up under Ted Bates, staying there until 1974 when they were the first victims of the three-club relegation from Division One.

Indeed, it was as a Division Two side, under Lawrie McMenemy in 1976, that the Southampton FC rocked English football's foundations by winning the FA Cup, beating massive favourites Manchester United 1-0, with Bobby Stokes famously scoring the winner.

Southampton were out of luck three years later, though, despite having Alan Ball in their side, losing 3-2 to Nottingham Forest in the 1979 League Cup final.

It needed the surprise signing of two-time European Player of the Year Kevin Keegan, from Hamburg to spark Southampton FC's next successful spell. In the 1983-84 campaign, with Peter Shilton in goal, the Saints finished runners-up to Liverpool in the League and reached the FA Cup semi-finals.

Southampton FC, inspired by club legend Matt Le Tissier, continued to play attractive football in the 1990s and regularly finished in a secure, mid-table spot.

In 2001 the Southampton FC moved from its 103-year-old home, The Dell, to the new St Mary's Stadium and an 11th-place finish under Gordon Strachan.

The following season Southampton FC chalked up their best Premier League finish - eighth - and were denied another FA Cup success by a 1-0 loss to Arsenal in the final.

In 2005, though, after 27 years among the elite of English football, Southampton FC was relegated.