A SAINTS academy side are set to visit newly-promoted National League South neighbours AFC Totton for a pre-season friendly in July.

The Stags will host the young Saints on Saturday, July 12, for a 12pm kick-off at Snows Stadium, ahead of the new league season.

Will Still's senior Saints team take on National League outfit Eastleigh at Silverlake Stadium later that same day, with kick-off slated for 3pm.

Saints under-21s began their pre-season for the previous 2024/25 campaign under former boss Simon Rusk with a 3-2 win at AFC Totton.

Dom Ballard, Derrick Abu and a trialist scored for Saints, with Marcus Dews netting twice for the hosts in a well-mannered affair enjoyed by all.

Senior Saints staff including former manager Russell Martin and assistant Matt Gill attended the match, delivering a Q&A ahead of kick-off.

Totton will be preparing for life in the sixth tier of English football for the first time after their Southern League promotion play-off victory in May.

Ethan Taylor's solitary goal against Gloucester City ensured Jimmy Ball's Stags claimed promotion a year after play-off final defeat to Salisbury.

Totton director of football and Saints legend James Beattie hopes to continue to grow the partnership between the two clubs.

In 2024, Beattie said: "I think the board will be in talks with Southampton to try to strengthen those bonds and enhance them.

"I think that's a great thing to have. It's a great link to have, Southampton's only a few miles away. We can make them more beneficial mutually."