IT was a spectacular celebration of Southampton Football Club’s rich 125-year history.

Thousands of supporters came together with their heroes over the weekend in a grand tribute to Saints.

There were some emotional scenes during the two days, most notably when Lawrie McMenemy received his lifetime achievement award on Saturday.

And there were plenty of other memorable moments, as the best of the club’s past was recognised.

Supporters crammed into the city’s Mayflower theatre last night for a grand show, featuring some of the greatest names from Saints’ history.

Well over 2,000 fans had tickets for the event, which proved so popular that over one hundred people had to stand in order to watch.

Such was the clamour for tickets that McMenemy said he had been told by officials at the venue that it was the fastest-selling performance the theatre had seen in the last 30 years.

It was a rare chance for fans to see so many of their favourite stars from years gone by together in the one place.

There was some incredible video footage on show, as the greatest moments in the club’s illustrious history were remembered.

The crowd cheered loudly as Bobby Stokes was shown firing in the winning goal in the 1976 FA Cup final victory over Manchester United at Wembley.

A selection of Matt Le Tissier’s finest strikes also received an amazing reaction from the watching masses.

That Le Tissier himself was crowned the club’s greatest ever player, after a fans’ poll in the Daily Echo, made the occasion all the more special.

But while his award may have stolen the show, there were plenty of other highlights during the evening.

Franny Benali’s one and only goal for the club – a thumping header against Leicester – was cheered over and over.

Many of the 1976 FA Cup winning team were present, with Mick Channon, Mel Blyth, Nick Holmes, Paul Gilchrist, Jim McCalliog and Hugh Fisher all recounting the glorious Wembley victory.

Even approaching 35 years on from that triumph, the reception from supporters to the living members of that team shows what high regard they are still held in.

There was also a chance to remember some of those legends that have passed away.

Peter Osgood’s wife, Lynn, was joined by Jan Stokes, Bobby’s widow, while members of Ted Bates’ family, as well as Alan Ball’s, were all part of the occasion.

When he received his lifetime achievement award, McMenemy was particularly keen that Bates, who did so much for the club in his many guises as player, manager, director and president, was given a special mention.

“Ted was on the bench with us when we won in 1976,” he said.

“Ted put the foundations in as far as football management at this club was concerned.”

There was a spontaneous round of applause for the late Markus Liebherr, when a video clip of him was shown, while footage of Ted Bates was also clapped.

And as everyone got ready to mention the greats that are no longer with us today, a moment was taken to remember the 84-year-old fan that died at St Mary’s on Saturday.

Danny and Ray Wallace were both also on stage, while other legends, such as Jimmy Case and Tim Flowers, delighted the crowd.

The club’s former managers were also celebrated, with McMenemy top of the list.

But the ever-popular Dave Merrington, who continues to show boundless enthusiasm for his beloved club, was up there too.

Some of the modern-day Saints were well represented.

James Beattie, who is now playing for Blackpool, drove all the way down to be part of the celebrations at Saturday night’s gala dinner, after the Seasiders’ game against Aston Villa.

The man who led the line on the march to the 2003 FA Cup final was joined by another member of that squad, Paul Jones.

Supporters were also treated to some fascinating and rare insights from Alan Shearer and Kevin Keegan.

Shearer came through the academy ranks at the club, before going on to become one of the most recognisable stars in world football.

Keegan followed the reverse path, arriving at Saints as Europe’s top player for a memorable two-year spell.

Both gave extended thoughts on what the club meant to them, while recounting their time on the south coast.

It was a fantastic way to cap a memorable weekend, which had been organised by entertainer and lifelong Saints fan Mike Osman.

He was thrilled that so many players had made the effort to be a part of the festivities and that such a large number of supporters were there to witness it all.

“These are Southampton fans and it was a chance for them to come to the Mayflower and celebrate the history of the club,” said Osman. “The response has been incredible.

“We need to move forward as a football club, no question, but we must not forget the past and where we came from.

“The history is the foundation of the club.”

The De Vere Grand Harbour Hotel played host to Saturday night’s star- studded dinner, the highlight of which was McMenemy’s award.

To mark the honour, the legendary boss was presented with a Longines watch from Southampton jewellers Parkhouse.

And the evening was another opportunity for hundreds of Saints fans to rub shoulders with their heroes. And it wasn’t just football that was well represented – Hampshire Cricket chairman Rod Bransgrove was in attendance, as was the county’s former star bowler Shaun Udal.

A huge amount of money was raised for the Ex-Saints Association, who assist former players who have fallen on hard times.

A donation was also being made to help Dell defender Kevin Moore, who is in a care home having been struck down by Alzheimer’s Disease.

More than £14,000 was raised through an auction, with some top prizes on offer. They included a round of golf at Loch Lomond with Shearer and Le Tissier, which went for a whopping £3,500.

Ex-Saints boss Graeme Souness shelled out a cool £1,000 for a signed photo montage of England’s 1966 World Cup winning team. The club’s former chairman Leon Crouch paid £2,250 for a shirt signed by Keegan, Channon, Le Tissier and Shearer. But the biggest sum was the £4,000 put up for a watercolour of Le Tissier in an England strip, signed by the man himself and the artist.

A silent auction and a well-supported raffle also helped raise some extra cash for the good causes being supported.

Kev Orchian then delighted the crowd with his mix of music and comedy, before McMenemy was surprised with his award – something that everyone in the room had gone to great pains to keep secret from him.

There was a huge cheer, as the Saints legend was recognised for his contribution to the club and also to charity, while there were touching scenes as he embraced his loyal and supportive wife Anne, as well as many other members of his family.

While the night was mainly about McMenemy, the star of the show reserved some special praise for Osman’s role in organising the events.

“Mike Osman deserves a medal for the work him, his wife and daughter have put in,” he said. “He has done an incredible job putting all this together, and he deserves great thanks for it.”