THOUSANDS of Saints fans packed the city’s streets to celebrate a historic day for Hampshire sport.

On May 1, 1976, Southampton FC took on Manchester United at Wembley and a Bobby Stokes goal sealed an incredible win.

And to commemorate the occasion an open-top bus tour ran from Southampton Civic Centre to St Mary’s to arrive before Saints took on Manchester City.

Enthusiastic fans greeted the former players and Paul Bearley, 51, from Southampton, whose father Roy Beazley managed the ex-Saints, said: "When people were singing it was nice.

"It was just a lovely occasion, it was moving.

"It was looking at the crowd and the old boys one or two with tears in their eyes.

"It was like a dream come true as a boy. Apart from the birth of my daughter it was the greatest day of my life.

"The whole day has brought back memories.

"I just wish my dad was here."