There may not have been league games to talk about but I have had a week of memories flooding back as I attended three functions in a short space of time and met up again with players and public who are passionate about football and particularly the Saints.

The first evening was set up by Cup winning legend David Peach, in memory of his lovely wife Joyce who sadly died last year with a brain tumour.

He organised an evening in Christchurch to raise funds for Lymington Hospice and the Brian Tumour Charity.

I think if you’d have asked the whole Cup team, even though some live as far away as Scotland, they would all have turned up. That was the sort of spirit that won us the Cup, and that team has kept in touch at various times over the many years.

On the night he had the wonderful Mike Osman, who not only kept the 150 or more guests amused, particularly with his imitation of President Trump, but his strength of course was helping raise money through his way of conducting the auction.

I was joined on a panel with legends Mick Channon, who came down from his stables in Newbury, Matt Le Tissier and Glenn Cockerill, who played alongside David at Swindon.

The night raised £12,000, and well done to the people who attended, and especially the various sponsors.

The following evening was more local and with my old friend and neighbour, the cricket legend David Gower, who I call Lord Gower and tell him to toot his horn if he drives past so I can run to the gate and touch my forelock as he goes by.

He was a bit embarrassed about what was happening in Australia where apparently some players have been suspended because one was scratching his ball on the pitch. I thought ‘it’s a good job that rule doesn’t apply to football.’ That evening was in the village hall in Braishfield to help raise funds for local amenities such as children’s play area. There was a small raffle and an enjoyable evening which raised just under £3,000.

The big event I suppose was the launch in the Sea City Museum of an event called ‘We March On’ which is the Southampton club motto now.

It is basically a history of the football club portrayed around a large area of the museum showing everything from old pictures, strips from the very first one worn to all of those through the years and memorabilia from many people connected over the years with the club.

There is a special area dedicated to the Cup winning team, two of who were present on the night, Mike Channon and David Peach.

There is another area showing the top team of all-time selected by supporters and on the night three of them were there in Wayne Bridge and Matt Le Tissier, along with Mike Channon.

I was honoured and humbled by the fact that I had been selected as the manager of that team.

The good thing is that this display is accompanied by interactive exhibits where people can push buttons and put earphones on to listen to interviews etc and it will go on for the next six months or so, and any supporter should not miss it.

I assume the museum will be open on matchdays, and I can see supporters turning up early before the game, and believe me you will be sorry if you miss it. It’s a wonderful exhibition, very impressive, and I personally will be going back again when it’s a little quieter so I can take it all in.

The people who put it together working under Greg Baker at the Saints Foundation and the staff at the Council should be congratulated for the fantastic show that it is, and so impressive that on the night chairman Ralph Krueger hinted that something like that could be put on in the future at the football club itself.

I think this would be an excellent idea.

  • I was interviewed alongside chairman Krueger at the event and we talked about this season’s Cup run.

At present I think we should put it to the back of our minds and I am sure Mark Hughes will ensure everybody concentrates on the next four important league games coming up.

We want not only to make our league position more secure but to go into the semi-final with confidence.

That could bring another Saints v Man United Cup final. My message would be ‘get the open top bus ready again.’