Many years ago I met a gentleman called John Cross, who was then lecturing at Southampton Institute, which eventually became Solent University.

John has become a good friend over the years and has a passion for sport, particularly Saints and their history.

He used to lecture in marketing and was able to add sport to that.

As a result students are coming to Solent from all around the world to attend the many and varied sports related courses now held there and it is one of the best centres for football studies. When opened by the then sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe the facilities were described as world class.

John recently challenged me to work out what the connection was between a list of names from the football world.

Here they are, so I can challenge both of my readers to see if they can come up with the answer to John’s question: Peter Shilton, Jim Montgomery, Bruce Grobbelaar, Jimmy Case, Kevin Keegan, Graeme Souness, Sammy Lee, Gordon Cowans, Tony Barton, Ryan Bertrand and, last but by no means least, Ronald Koeman.

There are 11 names, obviously from the football world, and he wanted me not only to answer why they are connected but also to rustle up a team.

Obviously with three of them being goalkeepers it was difficult, so I added another three who had a similar sort of connection – Peter Osgood, Mark Hughes and Danny Wallace.

Whilst I put my head around putting a team together, I thought ‘I can’t leave Alan Ball out.’ But of course as soon as I mentioned him I had to add Sir Alf Ramsay.

Now I suppose most people will have guessed the first connection – every one of them played some role at Southampton at some stage.

The main answer of course, which is particularly relevant in this week where we have seen Champions League football, is that every one of that first group were part of winning teams in what is now called the Champions League but used to be known as the European Cup.

The three added names Ossie, Mark Hughes and Danny Wallace, won European Cup Winners Cups or UEFA trophies.

I had to add Alan and Sir Alf even though people like Jimmy Case and Graeme Souness won three European Cups. Alan famously said once he only won one medal, but of course we all know it was the one every player dreams of, the World Cup.

My challenge to readers is what sort of team could you come up with?

I, with due respect to the other keepers, started with Peter Shilton.

Bruce Grobbelaar was the type of fella who would have said to me ‘don’t worry I’ll play anywhere, outfield as well if you want.’ Jimmy Montgomery was with us only for a few games on loan but the famous Wembley Cup winner for Sunderland and who has the record number of appearances for his native club, so those two would be on the bench.

Defenders were the hard ones to find but certainly our current manager would have to play and be the anchor. I’m sure he would ensure no penalties were conceded! Perhaps that’s a private joke between him and me to be had when I eventually meet him again.

To find someone alongside him was at first was difficult but I remembered a derby match with Portsmouth when our centre half came off injured and I moved Peter Osgood back there who ensured we finished the game winning, as ever, against our rivals.

When I complimented him on his performance at the back he said ‘boss, I could play there for another ten years.’ Full backs will be Ryan Bertrand, naturally, who is playing outstandingly well for us at present and who was a member of the Chelsea winning team in 2012.

There is no obvious right back but Sammy Lee, who is on the current staff at St Mary’s, and was a winner twice with Liverpool, in 1981 and 1984, would definitely be able to fit in very well.

There might not be many wingers get that far against him because I would certainly be playing another Liverpool legend, Jimmy Case, in front of him, with a midfield completed by Graeme Souness and Alan Ball.

That would enable me to play with three forwards.

Kevin Keegan won as far back as 1977 with Liverpool would have two other UEFA winners alongside him in Mark Hughes and Danny Wallace giving us that width and pace which we enjoyed so much in his spell at The Dell.

Tony Barton, who worked with Chris Nicholl both at Southampton and had taken over from Ron Saunders in the run-in at Aston Villa for the 1982 final which they won, I’m sure would not mind being assistant or coach to the great Sir Alf Ramsay, who of course played for Southampton in the old days.

Alongside the two goalkeepers on the bench would be Gordon Cowans.

It is a team full of Southampton connections who I am sure supporters would love to see and would certainly back against any opposition from not just the Premier League but anywhere around Europe, which leads us back to our present team which is flying high and in a Champions League position as we speak.

Wouldn’t it be marvellous if the season was to finish next weekend and we were looking forward to more European football coming up?

l PS- Another name has come in at the last minute but too late to include, and that is Peter Reid, who won’t mind because at present he’s managing the other side of the world in India.

Are there any others that supporters can think of that I have missed out?