AS Saints prepare for their Premier League clash against fellow relegation candidates Everton, fans know there can be absolutely no slip-ups - something that couldn’t be avoided when the two teams met 44 years ago.

Everton’s trip to the Dell on February 17, 1979 was played against a snowy backdrop and upon an icy pitch.

Only five games in all four divisions of the Football League survived the Arctic blast on that particular day, and Saints' first division match against the Toffees was one of them.

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In the sole top-flight match of the weekend, Saints won 3-0 on a pitch covered by a sprinkling of snow - and these pictures show just how white the ground was.

Leicester and Brighton hosted Second Division games, while Plymouth hosted the only Third Division match.

Daily Echo: Saints v Everton at The Dell. Playing on an iced up pitch. February 17, 1979. SAINTS ARCHIVE. THE SOUTHERN DAILY ECHO ARCHIVES. Ref - 2357g

In the Fourth Division, Wigan Athletic’s Springfield Park played host to the only game to take place in the north of the country. 

Saints were back in action at The Dell three days later, beating Bristol City 2-0 in another league game.

The 1978/79 season remains famous for the winter chill playing havoc with the fixture list.

Daily Echo: Saints v Everton at The Dell. Playing on the iced up pitch. February 17, 1979. SAINTS ARCHIVE. THE SOUTHERN DAILY ECHO ARCHIVES. Ref - 2357g

North of the border, a Scottish Cup match between Falkirk and Inverness Thistle got postponed 29 times!

Originally due to be played on January 6, the tie eventually took place on February 22.

Although temperatures are expected to drop over the next few days, it’s unlikely we’ll see Saints and Everton playing on a blanket of white at Goodison Park.

Daily Echo:

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