THEO Walcott broke Danny Wallace’s long-standing record as youngest Saints player to ever appear in a league game when he came off the bench against Glenn Hoddle’s Wolves in 2005.
The winger, aged 16 years and 143 days old, was introduced from the substitutes after 72 minutes of the opening match of the 2005-06 Championship season, which eventually finished 0-0.
It didn’t pass without humour or event though, as he would have come on even earlier if he hadn’t get too excited that he forgot to put on his shirt, having to go back and get it.
He wore the number 32 which raised further complications. Saints were running low on number 2 prints in Championship style and had to ask Wolves’ kitman if they could take one of theirs!
Walcott would then become the club’s youngest scorer in October and transfer to Arsenal for a huge £5m instant fee, with another similar amount in add-ons, just months later in January 2006.
Now a former England international, Walcott has since returned to his home at St Mary’s after 14 years apart and can add to his total of seven league goals for Saints this season.
Pictures from 2005:
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