Southampton Football Club , an English association football club based in Southampton , Hampshire , was founded in 1885 as St. Mary's Y.M.A. For almost six years the club took no part in any official competitions at national level, playing only friendlies and local tournaments, including the Hampshire Senior Cup . St Mary's first entered the FA Cup in the 1891–92 season , and in 1894 under the name Southampton St Mary's joined the newly founded Southern Football League .
Southampton league performance from 1920 to 2024
The club changed its name to simply Southampton at the start of the 1896–97 season , and quickly established themselves as the primary force in football in the South of England, winning the Southern League three times in a row. The club also reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup in 1898, losing the replay 2–0 to Nottingham Forest after a 1–1 draw. The Saints continued to dominate the league into the 20th century, claiming the championship again in 1901, 1903 and 1904, before joining the Football League Third Division as a founding member in 1920, following the absorption of the Southern League. Southampton were almost instantly promoted to the Second Division , completing the feat as champions in the 1921–22 season .
Southampton found life in the second flight of English football difficult, as they remained a mid-bottom table side throughout the seasons played before and immediately after the Second World War , before they were ultimately relegated back to the Third Division in 1953. Promoted as champions again in 1960, Southampton performed well in the following ten years, reaching the quarter-final stage in the newly created League Cup in 1961 and earning promotion to Division One in 1966 as division runners-up. The club received its first taste of continental football in the 1969–70 season when they competed in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup , although were knocked out in the first round. Despite suffering relegation back to Division Two in 1974, Southampton achieved a surprise victory in the 1976 FA Cup Final against Manchester United to win the trophy for the first and only time in the club's history. This success was topped off two seasons later when the club regained its First Division place.
The 1983–84 season was Southampton's most successful in terms of league position, when the club finished second in the top flight to Liverpool , missing out on the championship by just three points. In the 1990s, the club largely struggled to get out of the bottom third of the table, although they reached the advanced stages of the FA Cup and League Cup on a number of occasions and also played in the Full Members Cup final in 1992. The club became founder members of the Premier League in 1992 but continued their disappointing performances, despite reaching the 2003 FA Cup Final against Arsenal and losing to a single goal. Southampton were relegated to the Championship in the 2004–05 season , and were quickly relegated again following off-the-pitch problems in 2009. In their first season in League One , Southampton won the League Trophy with an emphatic 4–1 win against Carlisle United . The following season, Southampton were promoted to the Championship as runners-up in League One.
As of the end of the 2023–24 season , the club have spent 46 seasons in the top division of English football, 40 in the second, and 11 in the third.
The table details their achievements in all national and international first team competitions, and records their manager, the top goalscorer, the player with the most league appearances and the average home league attendance, for each completed season since their first appearance in the FA Cup in 1891–92.
Competitions
The club has participated in the following leagues:
The club has participated in the following other first-team tournaments:
Key
Pld – Matches played
W – Matches won
D – Matches drawn
L – Matches lost
GF – Goals for
GA – Goals against
Pts – Points
Pos – Final position
2Q – Second qualifying round
3Q – Third qualifying round
PO – Play-off round
GS – Group stage
R1 – First round
R2 – Second round, etc.
QF – Quarter-finals
SF – Semi-finals
Top scorer shown in bold when player was also top scorer for the division. Appearance number shown in bold when player played in every league match of the season.
League results shown in italics for abandoned competition.
Seasons
Season
League record
FA Cup
EFL Cup
Europe / Other
Manager(s)
Top goalscorer(s)
Most league appearances
Average attendance
Division
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
Pts
Pos
Player(s)
Goals
Player(s)
Apps.
1891–92
N/A
2Q
Jock Fleming Ernie Nicholls
3
N/A
1892–93
N/A
2Q
Cecil Knight
Bob Kiddle
3
N/A
1893–94
N/A
2Q
Ernie Nicholls Ernie Taylor Herbert Ward
1
N/A
1894–95
SL Div 1
16
9
2
5
34
25
20
3rd
R1
Charles Baker
12
Alf Littlehales
16
1895–96
18
12
0
6
44
23
24
3rd
R1
Charles Robson
Jack Farrell
14
Charles Baker Samuel Meston
18
1896–97
20
15
5
0
63
18
35
1st
R2
Alfred McMinn
Jack Farrell
20
Robert Buchanan George Clawley Jack Farrell William McMillan
20
1897–98
22
18
1
3
53
18
37
1st
SF
Ernest Arnfield
Robert Buchanan
16
George Clawley Harry Haynes Samuel Meston
22
1898–99
24
15
5
4
54
24
35
1st
R2
Abe Hartley Harry Wood
16
Jack Robinson Harry Wood
24
1899–1900
28
17
1
10
70
33
35
3rd
RU
Alf Milward
28
Alf Milward
28
1900–01
28
18
5
5
58
26
41
1st
R1
Edgar Chadwick
15
Samuel Meston Alf Milward George Molyneux
28
1901–02
30
18
6
6
71
28
42
3rd
RU
Albert Brown
29
Tommy Bowman Bert Lee George Molyneux
27
1902–03
30
20
8
2
83
20
48
1st
R1
Fred Harrison
17
Bert Lee
29
1903–04
34
22
6
6
75
30
50
1st
R2
Fred Harrison
27
Tommy Bowman George Molyneux
34
1904–05
34
18
7
9
54
40
43
3rd
QF
Edgar Bluff
13
Bert Lee
33
1905–06
34
19
7
8
58
39
45
2nd
QF
Harry Brown Fred Harrison
14
Fred Mouncher
32
1906–07
38
13
9
16
49
56
35
11th
R2
Fred Harrison
12
George Clawley
37
1907–08
38
16
6
16
51
60
38
11th
SF
Frank Costello
12
Frank Thorpe
35
1908–09
40
19
10
11
67
58
48
3rd
R1
Arthur Hughes
15
Jack Eastham
37
1909–10
42
16
16
10
64
55
48
5th
R2
Charlie McGibbon
20
Tom Burrows Frank Jefferis
41
1910–11
38
11
8
19
42
67
30
17th
R1
Harry Brown Martin Dunne
9
Jack Eastham
34
1911–12
38
10
11
17
46
63
31
16th
R1
George Swift
Henry Hamilton
9
John Denby Jim McAlpine
33
1912–13
38
10
11
17
40
72
31
16th
R1
Ernest Arnfield
Percy Prince
11
Sid Ireland
38
1913–14
38
15
7
16
55
54
37
11th
R1
Arthur Dominy
13
Len Andrews
37
1914–15
38
19
5
14
78
74
43
6th
R3
Arthur Dominy
30
Arthur Dominy
37
The Southern League and FA Cup were suspended until after the First World War .
1919–20
SL Div 1
42
18
8
16
72
63
44
8th
R3
Jimmy McIntyre
Arthur Dominy
20
Joe Barratt Arthur Dominy Jimmy Moore
41
1920–21
Div 3
42
19
16
7
64
28
54
2nd
R3
Jimmy McIntyre
Bill Rawlings
22
Fred Foxall Jimmy Moore Bill Turner
42
1921–22
Div 3(S)
42
23
15
4
68
21
61
1st ↑
R2
Bill Rawlings
32
Tommy Allen Bert Shelley Fred Titmuss
42
1922–23
Div 2
42
14
14
14
40
40
42
11th
QF
Arthur Dominy
17
Bert Shelley
42
1923–24
42
17
14
11
52
31
48
5th
R3
Bill Rawlings
21
Tommy Allen Bert Shelley
42
1924–25
42
13
18
11
40
36
44
7th
SF
Jimmy McIntyre George Goss
Bill Rawlings
16
Bill Rawlings Bert Shelley
41
1925–26
42
15
8
19
63
63
38
14th
R3
Arthur Chadwick
Bill Rawlings
20
Stan Woodhouse
37
1926–27
42
15
12
15
60
62
42
13th
SF
Bill Rawlings
28
Tommy Allen Michael Keeping
42
1927–28
42
14
7
21
68
77
35
17th
R3
Bill Rawlings
21
George Harkus
41
1928–29
42
17
14
11
74
60
48
4th
R3
Willie Haines
16
Bert Shelley
41
1929–30
42
17
11
14
77
76
45
7th
R3
Dick Rowley
26
Willie White
40
1930–31
42
19
6
17
74
62
44
9th
R3
Willie Haines
15
Arthur Bradford Bert Jepson
39
1931–32
42
17
7
18
66
77
41
14th
R3
George Kay
Johnny Arnold
20
Bill Adams
42
1932–33
42
18
5
19
66
66
41
12th
R3
Ted Drake
20
Bill Luckett
42
1933–34
42
15
8
19
54
58
38
14th
R3
Ted Drake
23
Dick Neal
41
1934–35
42
11
12
19
46
75
34
19th
R4
Laurie Fishlock
9
Fred Tully
40
1935–36
42
14
9
19
47
65
37
17th
R3
Vic Watson
14
Charlie Sillett
42
1936–37
42
11
12
19
53
77
34
19th
R3
George Goss Tom Parker
Jimmy Dunne
14
Billy Kingdon Charlie Sillett
41
1937–38
42
15
9
18
55
77
39
15th
R3
Tom Parker
Harry Osman
22
Harry Osman
40
1938–39
42
13
9
20
56
82
35
18th
R3
Fred Briggs
14
Billy Bevis Harry Brophy Sam Warhurst
37
1939–40
Div 2
3
1
0
2
5
6
2
17th
N/A
N/A
N/A
The Football League and FA Cup were suspended until after the Second World War .
1945–46
The Football League was not resumed in 1945–46 due to planning difficulties from the war.
R4
Arthur Dominy Bill Dodgin
Jack Bradley Doug McGibbon
2
N/A
N/A
1946–47
Div 2
42
15
9
18
69
76
39
14th
R4
Bill Dodgin
Jack Bradley George Lewis
15
Bill Rochford
41
16,039
1947–48
42
21
10
11
71
53
52
3rd
QF
Charlie Wayman
19
Alf Ramsey
42
1948–49
42
23
9
10
69
36
55
3rd
R3
Charlie Wayman
32
Eric Webber
42
1949–50
42
19
14
9
64
48
52
4th
R3
Sid Cann
Charlie Wayman
26
George Curtis Eric Webber
42
1950–51
42
15
13
14
66
73
43
12th
R4
Eddy Brown
22
Joe Mallett
42
1951–52
42
15
11
16
61
73
41
13th
R3
Sid Cann George Roughton
Eddy Brown
12
Eric Day
42
1952–53
42
10
13
19
68
85
33
21st ↓
R5
George Roughton
Frank Dudley
15
Eric Day
42
1953–54
Div 3(S)
46
22
7
17
76
63
51
6th
R1
Eric Day
27
Eric Day
46
1954–55
46
24
11
11
75
51
59
3rd
R2
Eric Day
29
Tommy Traynor Len Wilkins
46
1955–56
46
18
8
20
91
81
44
14th
R2
Ted Bates
Eric Day
29
Eric Day
45
1956–57
46
22
10
14
76
52
54
4th
R3
Derek Reeves
21
Pat Parker
46
1957–58
46
22
10
14
112
72
54
6th
R2
Southern Floodlit Cup
R1
Derek Reeves
35
Terry Paine
44
1958–59
Div 3
46
17
11
18
88
80
45
14th
R3
Southern Floodlit Cup
R2
Derek Reeves
17
Terry Paine
46
1959–60
46
26
9
11
106
75
61
1st ↑
R4
Southern Floodlit Cup
SF
Derek Reeves
45
Ron Davies Terry Paine Derek Reeves
46
1960–61
Div 2
42
18
8
16
84
81
44
8th
R4
QF
George O'Brien
27
Terry Paine
42
1961–62
42
18
9
15
77
62
45
6th
R3
R1
George O'Brien
30
Brian Clifton Cliff Huxford Tony Knapp
42
1962–63
42
17
8
17
72
67
42
11th
SF
R2
George O'Brien
30
Tony Knapp George O'Brien Terry Paine
42
1963–64
42
19
9
14
100
73
47
5th
R3
R2
Martin Chivers Terry Paine
22
Cliff Huxford
42
1964–65
42
17
14
11
83
63
48
4th
R4
R3
George O'Brien
37
Terry Paine
42
1965–66
42
22
10
10
85
56
54
2nd ↑
R3
R3
Martin Chivers
33
John Sydenham
41
1966–67
Div 1
42
14
6
22
74
92
34
19th
R4
R3
Ron Davies
43
Martin Chivers Jimmy Melia Terry Paine
42
1967–68
42
13
11
18
66
83
37
16th
R4
R2
Ron Davies
28
Terry Paine
41
1968–69
42
16
13
13
57
48
45
7th
R4
QF
Ron Davies
24
Terry Paine
42
1969–70
42
6
17
19
46
67
29
19th
R4
R2
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
R3
Mick Channon
21
Mick Channon Jimmy Gabriel
39
1970–71
42
17
12
13
56
44
46
7th
R5
R2
Ron Davies
21
Mick Channon Hugh Fisher Joe Kirkup Brian O'Neil
42
1971–72
42
12
7
23
52
80
31
19th
R3
R3
UEFA Cup
R1
Mick Channon
17
Mick Channon Eric Martin
42
1972–73
42
11
18
13
47
52
40
13th
R3
R3
Mick Channon
18
Hugh Fisher Eric Martin
42
1973–74
42
11
14
17
47
68
36
20th ↓
R5
R4
Ted Bates Lawrie McMenemy
Mick Channon
23
Hugh Fisher
42
1974–75
Div 2
42
15
11
16
53
54
41
13th
R3
R4
Texaco Cup
RU
Lawrie McMenemy
Mick Channon
24
Mick Channon Peter Osgood
40
1975–76
42
21
7
14
66
50
49
6th
W
R2
Mick Channon
25
Mick Channon
42
1976–77
42
17
10
15
72
67
44
9th
R5
R2
FA Charity Shield
RU
Ted MacDougall
26
Mick Channon
40
European Cup Winners' Cup
QF
1977–78
42
22
13
7
70
39
57
2nd ↑
R4
R3
Phil Boyer
19
Alan Ball Phil Boyer Mike Pickering
41
1978–79
Div 1
42
12
16
14
47
53
40
14th
QF
RU
Phil Boyer
16
Alan Ball Phil Boyer Malcolm Waldron
42
1979–80
42
18
9
15
65
53
45
8th
R3
R3
Phil Boyer
25
Phil Boyer
42
1980–81
42
20
10
12
76
56
50
6th
R5
R2
Steve Moran
20
Mick Channon Chris Nicholl
42
1981–82
42
19
9
14
72
67
66
7th
R3
R2
UEFA Cup
R2
Kevin Keegan
30
David Armstrong Kevin Keegan
41
1982–83
42
15
12
15
54
58
57
12th
R3
R4
UEFA Cup
R1
Danny Wallace
13
Chris Nicholl
42
1983–84
42
22
11
9
66
38
77
2nd
SF
R3
Steve Moran
25
David Armstrong Nick Holmes Peter Shilton
42
1984–85
42
19
11
12
56
47
68
5th
R5
R4
UEFA Cup
R1
Steve Moran
18
Mick Mills
42
1985–86
42
12
10
20
51
62
46
14th
SF
R4
Chris Nicholl
David Armstrong
15
David Armstrong
41
1986–87
42
14
10
18
69
68
52
12th
R3
SF
Colin Clarke
22
Glenn Cockerill
42
1987–88
40
12
14
14
49
53
50
12th
R4
R2
Colin Clarke
17
Colin Clarke
40
1988–89
38
10
15
13
52
66
45
13th
R3
QF
Rod Wallace
14
Rod Wallace
38
1989–90
38
15
10
13
71
63
55
7th
R5
QF
Matthew Le Tissier
24
Rod Wallace
38
1990–91
38
12
9
17
58
69
45
14th
R5
QF
Matthew Le Tissier
23
Barry Horne
38
15,413
1991–92
42
14
10
18
39
55
52
16th
QF
R4
Full Members Cup
RU
Ian Branfoot
Alan Shearer
18
Tim Flowers Alan Shearer
41
14,070
1992–93
Premier League
42
13
11
18
54
61
50
18th
R3
R3
Matthew Le Tissier
18
Tim Flowers
42
15,148
1993–94
42
12
7
23
49
66
43
18th
R3
R2
Ian Branfoot Alan Ball
Matthew Le Tissier
25
Jeff Kenna Neil Maddison
41
14,751
1994–95
42
12
18
12
61
63
54
10th
R5
R3
Alan Ball
Matthew Le Tissier
29
Jim Magilton
42
14,685
1995–96
38
9
11
18
34
52
38
17th
QF
R4
Dave Merrington
Neil Shipperley
12
Jason Dodd Neil Shipperley
37
14,820
1996–97
38
10
11
17
50
56
41
16th
R3
QF
Graeme Souness
Matthew Le Tissier
17
Jim Magilton
37
15,099
1997–98
38
14
6
18
50
55
48
12th
R3
R4
Dave Jones
Matthew Le Tissier
14
Paul Jones
38
15,159
1998–99
38
11
8
19
37
64
41
17th
R3
R2
Egil Østenstad
8
James Beattie
35
15,140
1999–2000
38
12
8
18
45
62
44
15th
R4
R4
Dave Jones Glenn Hoddle
Marian Pahars
13
Dean Richards
35
15,132
2000–01
38
14
10
14
40
48
52
10th
R5
R3
Glenn Hoddle
James Beattie
12
Wayne Bridge Claus Lundekvam
38
15,115
2001–02
38
12
9
17
46
54
45
11th
R3
R3
Stuart Gray Gordon Strachan
Marian Pahars
16
Wayne Bridge
38
30,633
2002–03
38
13
13
12
43
46
52
8th
RU
R3
Gordon Strachan
James Beattie
24
James Beattie
38
30,680
2003–04
38
12
11
15
44
45
47
12th
R3
QF
UEFA Cup
R1
Gordon Strachan Paul Sturrock
James Beattie
17
James Beattie Paul Telfer
37
31,716
2004–05
38
6
14
18
45
66
32
20th ↓
QF
R4
Paul Sturrock Steve Wigley Harry Redknapp
Peter Crouch
16
Rory Delap
37
30,609
2005–06
Champ
46
13
19
14
49
50
58
12th
R5
R4
Harry Redknapp George Burley
Ricardo Fuller
9
Danny Higginbotham
37
23,613
2006–07
46
21
12
13
77
53
75
6th
R4
R3
George Burley
Grzegorz Rasiak
21
Chris Baird
44
23,556
2007–08
46
13
15
18
56
72
54
20th
R5
R1
George Burley Nigel Pearson
Stern John
19
Stern John Andrew Surman
40
21,081
2008–09
46
10
15
21
46
69
45
23rd ↓
R3
R3
Jan Poortvliet Mark Wotte
David McGoldrick
14
Kelvin Davis David McGoldrick
46
18,149
2009–10
League 1
46
23
14
9
85
47
73
7th
R5
R2
Football League Trophy
W
Alan Pardew
Rickie Lambert
36
Rickie Lambert
45
20,108
2010–11
46
28
8
10
86
38
92
2nd ↑
R4
R2
Football League Trophy
R1
Alan Pardew Dean Wilkins Nigel Adkins
Rickie Lambert
21
Kelvin Davis
46
21,726
2011–12
Champ
46
26
10
10
85
46
88
2nd ↑
R4
R4
Nigel Adkins
Rickie Lambert
31
Jack Cork
46
26,420
2012–13
Premier League
38
9
14
15
49
60
41
14th
R3
R4
Nigel Adkins Mauricio Pochettino
Rickie Lambert
15
Rickie Lambert
38
30,874
2013–14
38
15
11
12
54
46
56
8th
R5
R4
Mauricio Pochettino
Jay Rodriguez
17
Adam Lallana
38
30,211
2014–15
38
18
6
14
54
33
60
7th
R4
QF
Ronald Koeman
Graziano Pellè
16
Graziano Pellè
38
30,652
2015–16
38
18
9
11
59
41
63
6th
R3
R5
Europa League
PO
Sadio Mané
15
José Fonte
37
30,750
2016–17
38
12
10
16
41
48
46
8th
R4
RU
Europa League
GS
Claude Puel
Charlie Austin
9
Fraser Forster
38
30,936
2017–18
38
7
15
16
37
56
36
17th
SF
R2
Mauricio Pellegrino Mark Hughes
Charlie Austin Dušan Tadić
7
Dušan Tadić
36
30,793
2018–19
38
9
12
17
45
65
39
16th
R3
R4
Mark Hughes Ralph Hasenhüttl
Nathan Redmond
9
Nathan Redmond
38
29,365
2019–20
38
15
7
16
51
60
52
11th
R4
R4
Ralph Hasenhüttl
Danny Ings
25
Danny Ings James Ward-Prowse
38
29,500
2020–21
38
12
7
19
47
68
43
15th
SF
R2
Danny Ings
13
James Ward-Prowse
38
N/A
2021–22
38
9
13
16
43
67
40
15th
QF
R4
James Ward-Prowse
10
James Ward-Prowse Oriol Romeu
36
29,884
2022–23
38
6
7
25
36
73
25
20th ↓
R5
SF
Ralph Hasenhüttl Nathan Jones Rubén Sellés
James Ward-Prowse
9
James Ward-Prowse
38
28,283
2023–24
Champ
46
26
9
11
87
63
87
4th ↑
R5
R1
Russell Martin
Adam Armstrong
21
Adam Armstrong
46
28,642
Overall (since 1920–21)
Seasons spent at Level 1 of the football league system : 46
Seasons spent at Level 2 of the football league system: 40
Seasons spent at Level 3 of the football league system: 11
Seasons spent at Level 4 of the football league system: 0
Notes
The EFL Cup competition started in the 1960–61 season.
Includes goals scored in the Southern League , The Football League and the Premier League and the other first-team tournaments as listed above.
Includes substitute appearances. Bold indicates "ever-present".
League matches only (including Southern League, Football League and Premier League).
Reached Second qualifying round, where they defeated Reading 7–0 but were disqualified for fielding ineligible players.
Founder member of the Southern League .
Southampton's first appearance in the Cup Final, a 4–0 defeat to First Division side Bury .
Southampton's second appearance in the Cup Final, a 2–1 replay defeat to First Division side Sheffield United .
The 1939–40 season was abandoned in early September and all results annulled.
^ Lowest League finish.
Highest League finish.
2001–02 season was the inaugural season at St Mary's Stadium .
All league fixtures bar one of the 2020–21 season were played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom .
Won in the play-off final to Leeds United , 1–0
References
"Southampton St Mary's" . Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 14 June 2008. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
"Southampton" . Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 14 June 2008. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
"Southampton History 1918 to 1945" . statto.com. Archived from the original on 27 March 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
"Southampton History 1945 to 1975" . statto.com. Archived from the original on 1 March 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
"Southampton History 1975 to date" . statto.com. Archived from the original on 1 March 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
"The FA Cup Archive" . The Football Association . Retrieved 18 November 2012. Individual seasons accessed via dropdown menu.
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