SOUTHAMPTON Football Club played their first match at The Dell 115 years ago this week.

The club’s pioneering director George Thomas orchestrated the short move from the County Ground in Northlands Road to The Dell, and on September 3, 1898 the Saints got the ball rolling with a match against the newly-formed Brighton United.

To be precise, it was the mayor of Southampton, Alderman G J Tilling, who kicked off in front of a modest crowd of 6,525.

Saints were a powerful force at the time and boasted four internationals – goalkeeper Jack Robinson, inside forward Harry Wood, wing half Jack Robertson and Peter Meehan, a full back who did not play against Brighton.

In glorious sunshine the game got under way, but it wasn’t long before the temperature went up a notch as Watty Keay quickly scored the first goal at The Dell, applying the finishing touch to some neat wing play by Tommy Smith. Further Saints goals came from Abe Hartley and Jim McKenzie before the Seagulls responded with a thunderbolt from Roddy McLeod.

The high temperatures caused some tempers to boil over and the referee had to lecture several players before Wood sealed a 4-1 win for Saints.