1983–84 Southampton F.C. season

September 2024 Southampton F.C. 1983–84 Alan Woodford Lawrie McMenemy The Dell First Division 2nd FA Cup Semi-finals League Cup Third round Steve Moran (21) Steve Moran (25) 21,141 v TottenhamHotspur (7 May 1984) 12,483 v Carlisle United(25 October 1983) 18,051 8–2 v Coventry City(28 April 1984) 0–4 v Queens Park Rangers(24 March 1984) _southampton8384h _southampton8384h _southampton8384h _southampton8384h _southampton8384h FF0000 FF0000 FF0000 000000 FFFFFF _southampton8384a _southampton8384a _southampton8384a _southampton8384a _southampton8384a 00003d 00003d 00003d 00003d 29abe3 1982–83 1984–85 The 1983–84 Southampton F.C. season was the club's 83rd season of competitive football and their 14th in the First Division of the Football League. The campaign saw the Saints enjoy their most successful league performance of all-time, finishing second in the top flight behind champions Liverpool, who were winning their third consecutive title. Outside the league, the South Coast side also reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup and the third round of the League Cup. Despite a disappointing previous season in which the club finished 12th in the First Division, Southampton only made a handful of signings in the summer before the start of the 1983–84 campaign, bringing in centre-back Ken Armstrong to replace the outgoing Chris Nicholl and striker Frank Worthington to bolster their forward line. Later in the season, the club signed striker Alan Curtis and left-back Mark Dennis, while right-back Ivan Golac returned for the last few months of the campaign. Southampton enjoyed numerous unbeaten spells throughout the campaign to ensure they were always in the running for a high finish, including the opening six and final ten games of the season. The latter run included an 8–2 win over Coventry City, which would remain their biggest win in the top flight until the 2014–15 season. As a First Division side, Southampton entered the 1983–84 FA Cup in the third round. The club made it to the semi-finals of the competition for the first time since winning the trophy in 1976, picking up narrow away victories over Nottingham Forest, Portsmouth and Blackburn Rovers to get there. After thrashing Second Division side Sheffield Wednesday in a sixth round replay after a goalless draw, the Saints faced league rivals Everton in the penultimate round, eventually succumbing to the Toffees thanks to a single goal in extra time. Everton went on to win the cup. In the 1983–84 League Cup, Southampton beat Second Division side Carlisle United 3–2 on aggregate in the second round, before suffering defeat at the hands of Rotherham United of the Third Division to exit the tournament at the second hurdle. Southampton used 22 players during the 1983–84 season and had 12 different goalscorers. Their top scorer was Steve Moran, who scored 25 goals in all competitions – 21 in the league and four in the FA Cup. Midfielder David Armstrong was the second-highest goalscorer with 19 goals across all three competitions, followed by the previous season's top scorer Danny Wallace on 11 league goals. Armstrong and fellow midfielder Nick Holmes played in all 51 competitive games during the season, with Armstrong picking up the club's Player of the Season award. The average attendance at The Dell during 1983–84 was 18,051. The highest home attendance was 21,141 for the 5–0 league win over Tottenham Hotspur on 7 May 1984 and the lowest was 15,009 for a 0–2 defeat against Notts County on 19 November 1983. Background and transfers thumb|upright|Southampton signed Dennis Wise as an apprentice in the summer of 1983, but he failed to make an appearance for the first team and was later transferred to Wimbledon in 1985. Ahead of the 1983–84 season, Southampton manager Lawrie McMenemy released seven players from his squad – this included five youth players, striker Bob Lee (who had failed to make an appearance) and goalkeeper Peter Wells, who had been on loan at Millwall since February 1983 and was signed on a permanent basis.Holley Chalk 2003 174 Centre-back Chris Nicholl, who had made over 250 appearances for the Saints over a six-season spell, moved to a player-assistant manager role at Grimsby Town. He spent two years with the Mariners, after which he would return to Southampton and take over as first team manager, following Lawrie McMenemy's departure.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/chris-nicholl/ Chris Nicholl SaintsPlayers.co.uk 4 September 2024 Following Nicholl's move, the Saints brought in Ken Armstrong from Scottish side Kilmarnock as his replacement; the fee for his signing has been disputed, with sources claiming the club paid either £25,000, £50,000 or £60,000 for his services.Chalk Holley 1987 190https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/ken-armstrong/ Ken Armstrong SaintsPlayers.co.uk 4 September 2024 Also signed in the summer was striker Frank Worthington from league rivals Sunderland, who joined in June for a reported fee of £25,000. Shortly after the start of the league season, centre-back Malcolm Waldron made a £100,000 move to Third Division side Burnley, following a frustrating season in which he made only three league appearances after a serious knee injury.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/malcolm-waldron/ Malcolm Waldron SaintsPlayers.co.uk 4 September 2024 In November 1983, after a string of results which included the club's first four defeats, the club made two more signings, bringing in Alan Curtis from Swansea City and Mark Dennis from Birmingham City.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/alan-curtis/ Alan Curtis SaintsPlayers.co.uk 4 September 2024 https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/mark-dennis/ Mark Dennis SaintsPlayers.co.uk 4 September 2024 At the same time, striker Ian Baird was sent out on a five-month loan to Cardiff City, having struggled to break into the first team ahead of Worthington.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/ian-baird/ Ian Baird SaintsPlayers.co.uk 4 September 2024 The final change in personnel came in March 1984, when Yugoslavian right-back Ivan Golac – who had previously played for the club between 1978 and 1982, before leaving after a "dispute with McMenemy over terms" – returned to Southampton for the final run of games.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/ivan-golac/ Ivan Golac SaintsPlayers.co.uk 4 September 2024 Players transferred in NameNationalityPos. Playing positionClubDateFeeRef.Ken ArmstrongEnglandDF DefenderSCO KilmarnockJune 1983£50,000The fee paid for Ken Armstrong has been disputed, with sources citing either £25,000, £50,000 or £60,000 for his transfer to Southampton.Frank WorthingtonEnglandFW ForwardENG SunderlandJune 1983£25,000https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/frank-worthington/ Frank Worthingtno SaintsPlayers.co.uk 4 September 2024 Ian StrawEnglandDF Defendernone (free agent)July 1983FreeHolley Chalk 2003 615Dennis WiseEnglandMF Midfieldernone (free agent)July 1983FreeAlan CurtisWalesFW ForwardWAL Swansea CityNovember 1983£80,000Mark DennisEnglandDF DefenderENG Birmingham CityNovember 1983UnknownIvan GolacYugoslaviaDF DefenderYUG BelasicaMarch 1984Unknown Players transferred out NameNationalityPos. Playing positionClubDateFeeRef.Peter WellsEnglandGK GoalkeeperENG MillwallMay 1983Unknownhttps://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/peter-wells/ Peter Wells SaintsPlayers.co.uk 4 September 2024 Bob LeeEnglandFW ForwardENG DarlingtonAugust 1983FreeHolley Chalk 2003 613David MaddenEnglandMF MidfielderENG ArsenalAugust 1983FreeChris NichollEnglandDF DefenderENG Grimsby TownAugust 1983UnknownMalcolm WaldronEnglandDF DefenderENG BurnleySeptember 1983£100,000 Players loaned out NameNationalityPos. Playing positionClubDate fromDate toRef.Ian BairdEnglandFW ForwardWAL Cardiff CityNovember 1983March 1984Ken ArmstrongEnglandDF DefenderENG Notts CountyMarch 1984End of seasonMartin FoyleEnglandFW ForwardENG Blackburn RoversMarch 1984April 1984https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/martin-foyle/ Martin Foyle SaintsPlayers.co.uk 4 September 2024 Ian JuryeffEnglandFW ForwardSWE MunkforsMarch 1984April 1984https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/ian-juryeff/ Ian Juryeff SaintsPlayers.co.uk 4 September 2024 Ian JuryeffEnglandFW ForwardENG Mansfield TownApril 1984End of season Pre-season friendlies Ahead of the 1983–84 league campaign, Southampton played seven pre-season friendlies. At the beginning of August, the club completed a short tour of Ireland which included two fixtures – they beat Drogheda United 3–2 and Cobh Ramblers 4–0, with Steve Moran scoring three goals across the two games.Holley Chalk 2003 429 Three domestic friendlies followed, with the Saints edging out Third Division side Oxford United at the Manor Ground, before drawing 1–1 with both Bournemouth and Crystal Palace, also away. A week before the start of the league season, the club travelled to Spain to compete in the annual Trofeo Cidade de Vigo, a pre-season friendly tournament. The English side won the trophy after beating Romanian club Dinamo București on penalties and drawing 1–1 with hosts Celta Vigo.https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/ciudadvigo.html Trofeo Ciudad de Vigo (Vigo-Pontevedra) 1971-2012 RSSSF 5 September 2024 Friendly 1 August 1983 IRL Drogheda United 2–3 Southampton Moran Wallace Weavers Park Drogheda, Ireland W Friendly 3 August 1983 IRL Cobh Ramblers 0–4 Southampton Williams Moran Worthington St Colman's Park Cobh, Ireland W Friendly 8 August 1983 Oxford United 4–5 Southampton Moran K. Armstrong Worthington Wright Manor Ground Oxford W Friendly 10 August 1983 Bournemouth 1–1 Southampton Waldron Dean Court Bournemouth D Friendly 13 August 1983 Crystal Palace 1–1 Southampton Wright Selhurst Park London D Trofeo Cidade de Vigo 18 August 1983 ROM Dinamo București 0–0 4–5 Southampton Vigo, Spain W Trofeo Cidade de Vigo 20 August 1983 ESP Celta Vigo 1–1 Southampton Moran Vigo, Spain D First Division 1983–84 Football League Southampton opened their 1983–84 league campaign in fine form, going unbeaten in their first six fixtures to establish themselves as a contender for the top of the table early on. Victories included an opening day 1–0 win at Nottingham Forest, who had finished the previous season in fifth place; a 1–0 home win over frequent title challengers Arsenal; and a convincing 3–0 win over Manchester United, who had finished the year before at third in the table. The Saints had also managed to hold defending champions Liverpool to a 1–1 draw at Anfield, with a late Mick Mills goal cancelling out Ian Rush's opener. After suffering their first defeat at the hands of Aston Villa after seeing Frank Worthington sent off, the team's good form became more sporadic and they dropped as low as ninth in the league table. During this period, the Saints picked up narrow victories over Wolverhampton Wanderers, Ipswich Town and West Bromwich Albion, but lost points at the hands of struggling sides Luton Town, Norwich City and Notts County. The home loss to Notts County, who would go on to be relegated at the end of the season, is often cited by commentators as a crucial result which set back Southampton's hopes for winning the league.Holley Chalk 2003 175Holley Chalk 2003 178 thumb|upright|left|Mick Mills scored both of his 1983–84 league goals in the first half of the season, in a 1–1 draw with Liverpool and a 3–1 win over Stoke City. Moving into December, Southampton sat ninth in the First Division table.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-one/30-november-1983/ League Division One table after close of play on 30 November 1983 11v11.com 5 September 2024 They picked up four wins from five games to move up to third in the table towards the end of the month, including a 3–1 victory over Stoke City, narrow 1–0 wins against West Ham United and Watford, and a 2–1 victory over Birmingham City in which the travelling Blues scored two own goals.Holley Chalk 2003 176 The club's form suffered again over the new year, as they picked up just two points from four games in successive 2–2 draws with Arsenal and Aston Villa, which were followed by narrow defeats at the hands of fellow high-flyers Manchester United (2–3) and Nottingham Forest (0–1), leaving Southampton sixth in the table.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-one/23-january-1984/ League Division One table after close of play on 23 January 1984 11v11.com 5 September 2024 Another unbeaten run followed, as Southampton picked up 16 of a possible 18 points between 4 February and 16 March, moving back up to fourth place.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-one/16-march-1984/ League Division One table after close of play on 16 March 1984 11v11.com 5 September 2024 The final fixture in this run was the first match at The Dell to be broadcast live on television, against league leaders and defending champions Liverpool. The hosts won the game 2–0, with winger Danny Wallace scoring "two sublime strikes" according to club historian Dave Juson.Holley Chalk 2003 177 March ended with 0–4 and 0–1 defeats at Queens Park Rangers and Everton, respectively. Southampton went unbeaten for the last ten games of the 1983–84 season, climbing from fifth place in the table to their final finishing position in second.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-one/17-may-1984/ League Division One table after close of play on 17 May 1984 11v11.com 5 September 2024 The first win in the run was a 3–1 victory at home to Everton, who had knocked the Saints out of the FA Cup semi-finals just three days previously. The third win of the run was an 8–2 thrashing of visiting Coventry City, who were fighting against the risk of relegation. Among the home side's eight goals were hat-tricks for two players – Steve Moran and Danny Wallace – which marked the first time this had happened for the club since 1964. The result set a new club record for biggest winning margin in the top flight, which remained in place until they beat Sunderland 8–0 in the Premier League in 2014.https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/11544726.saints-highest-scoring-league-wins/ Saints' highest-scoring league wins Walter Simon Southern Daily Echo 18 October 2014 5 September 2024 The Saints also beat Tottenham Hotspur – who finished fourth the previous year – 5–0, although the visitors were later fined £7,500 by UEFA for purposely "fielding a weakened side" ahead of the first leg of their UEFA Cup final two days later. In their last two fixtures, Southampton picked up away victories over West Bromwich Albion (2–0) and Notts County (3–1) to leapfrog Nottingham Forest, Queens Park Rangers and Manchester United into the runners-up position in the table.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-one/12-may-1984/ League Division One table after close of play on 12 May 1984 11v11.com 5 September 2024 https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-one/14-may-1984/ League Division One table after close of play on 14 May 1984 11v11.com 5 September 2024 The club finished the First Division campaign on 77 points, three ahead of Forest and United, with 22 wins, 11 draws and nine defeats; their tally of just 38 goals conceded was the first time the club had let in less than a goal per game in the top flight. The club's points total of 77 was the highest they had achieved in the Football League to date, and would remain the club record until their promotion-winning 2010–11 season (which featured 46 matches – four more than in 1983–84).http://www.statto.com/football/teams/southampton/history Southampton Complete History statto.com https://web.archive.org/web/20160315224414/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/southampton/history 15 March 2016 live 5 September 2024 Due to their final league position, Southampton qualified for the 1984–85 UEFA Cup.https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/1980s History – 1980s Southampton F.C. 5 September 2024 List of match results 1 27 August 1983 Nottingham Forest 0–1 Southampton Wallace 66 City Ground Nottingham 14,626 W 2 29 August 1983 Southampton 0–0 Queens Park Rangers The Dell Southampton 19,522 D 3 3 September 1983 Southampton 1–0 Arsenal Baird 72 The Dell Southampton 19,377 W 4 6 September 1983 Liverpool 1–1 Southampton Rush 62 Mills 84 Anfield Liverpool 26,331 D 5 10 September 1983 Sunderland 0–2 Southampton Moran 22 67 Roker Park Sunderland 12,716 W 6 17 September 1983 Southampton 3–0 Manchester United Wallace 3Williams 16D. Armstrong 79 The Dell Southampton 20,674 W 7 24 September 1983 Aston Villa 1–0 Southampton Withe 24 Villa Park Birmingham 21,209 L 8 1 October 1983 Southampton 1–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Worthington 82 The Dell Southampton 16,589 W 9 22 October 1983 Luton Town 3–1 Southampton Aylott 14 32Stein 65 D. Armstrong 68 Kenilworth Road Luton 12,389 L 10 29 October 1983 Southampton 3–2 Ipswich Town Williams 4Holmes 59Moran 90 Mariner 19 27 The Dell Southampton 18,515 W 11 5 November 1983 Norwich City 1–0 Southampton Bertschin 61 Carrow Road Norwich 14,303 L 12 12 November 1983 Southampton 1–0 West Bromwich Albion Moran 19 pen. The Dell Southampton 16,450 W 13 19 November 1983 Southampton 0–2 Notts County Fashanu 19Christie 88 The Dell Southampton 15,009 L 14 26 November 1983 Coventry City 0–0 Southampton Highfield Road Coventry 11,579 D 15 30 November 1983 Leicester City 2–1 Southampton Smith 22Lineker 74 Worthington 83 Filbert Street Leicester 14,181 L 16 3 December 1983 Southampton 3–1 Stoke City Wallace 35D. Armstrong 44Mills 60 James 14 The Dell Southampton 15,301 W 17 10 December 1983 Tottenham Hotspur 0–0 Southampton White Hart Lane London 29,711 D 18 17 December 1983 Southampton 2–1 Birmingham City Blake 6 o.g.Hagan 79 o.g. Stevenson 44 The Dell Southampton 15,248 W 19 26 December 1983 West Ham United 0–1 Southampton Wallace 64 Boleyn Ground London 22,221 W 20 27 December 1983 Southampton 1–0 Watford D. Armstrong 21 The Dell Southampton 20,759 W 21 31 December 1983 Arsenal 2–2 Southampton Cork 16Nicholas 49 pen. Moran 62 75 Arsenal Stadium London 27,596 D 22 2 January 1984 Southampton 2–2 Aston Villa Moran 81D. Armstrong 85 McMahon 3Shaw 48 The Dell Southampton 18,963 D 23 21 January 1984 Manchester United 3–2 Southampton Robson 19Stapleton 31Mühren 60 Moran 3 38 Old Trafford Manchester 40,371 L 24 23 January 1984 Southampton 0–1 Nottingham Forest Birtles 31 The Dell Southampton 17,420 L 25 4 February 1984 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0–1 Southampton Moran 63 Molineux Stadium Wolverhampton 9,943 W 26 11 February 1984 Southampton 1–1 Sunderland Chapman 81 Moran 63 pen. The Dell Southampton 16,968 D 27 21 February 1984 Ipswich Town 0–3 Southampton Worthington 10Moran 33D. Armstrong 38 Portman Road Ipswich 14,934 W 28 25 February 1984 Southampton 2–1 Luton Town Wright 32D. Armstrong 44 Donaghy 89 The Dell Southampton 17,947 W 29 3 March 1984 Southampton 2–1 Norwich City D. Armstrong 12Puckett 82 Deehan 60 The Dell Southampton 17,456 W 30 16 March 1984 Southampton 2–0 Liverpool Wallace 45 85 The Dell Southampton 19,698 W 31 24 March 1984 Queens Park Rangers 4–0 Southampton Wicks 16Micklewhite 43Allen 60Waddock 64 Loftus Road London 15,407 L 32 31 March 1984 Everton 1–0 Southampton Gray 40 Goodison Park Liverpool 20,244 L 33 7 April 1984 Southampton 2–2 Leicester City Wallace 51Moran 87 Lineker 48 73 The Dell Southampton 17,455 D 34 17 April 1984 Southampton 3–1 Everton D. Armstrong 46 79Moran 80 The Dell Southampton 16,978 W 35 21 April 1984 Southampton 2–0 West Ham United Holmes 33Moran 76 The Dell Southampton 20,846 W 36 24 April 1984 Watford 1–1 Southampton Reilly 16 D. Armstrong 68 Vicarage Road Watford 16,744 D 37 28 April 1984 Southampton 8–2 Coventry City D. Armstrong 28Wallace 36 64 85Moran 57 76 82Worthington 69 Grimes 66Gynn 88 The Dell Southampton 16,746 W 38 5 May 1984 Stoke City 1–1 Southampton Maguire 80 Holmes 69 Victoria Ground Stoke-on-Trent 12,131 D 39 7 May 1984 Southampton 5–0 Tottenham Hotspur Puckett 27Wallace 39 67D. Armstrong 73 79 The Dell Southampton 21,141 W 40 12 May 1984 Birmingham City 0–0 Southampton St Andrew's Birmingham 16,445 D 41 14 May 1984 West Bromwich Albion 0–2 Southampton Puckett 71Moran 72 The Hawthorns West Bromwich 10,365 W 42 17 May 1984 Notts County 1–3 Southampton Christie 9 Moran 2 56D. Armstrong 67 Meadow Lane Nottingham 6,035 W Final league table First Division y SOU RSSSF Results by matchday table b Round Ground A / H / H / A / A / H / A / H / A / H / A / H / H / A / A / H / A / H / A / H / A / H / A / H / A / H / A / H / H / H / A / A / H / H / H / A / H / A / H / A / A / A Result W / D / W / D / W / W / L / W / L / W / L / W / L / D / L / W / D / W / W / W / D / D / L / L / W / D / W / W / W / W / L / L / D / W / W / D / W / D / W / D / W / W Position 9 / 5 / 4 / 6 / 5 / 2 / 3 / 2 / 7 / 5 / 8 / 4 / 9 / 8 / 8 / 6 / 9 / 6 / 4 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 6 / 6 / 6 / 6 / 5 / 5 / 4 / 4 / 5 / 5 / 5 / 5 / 5 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 5 / 3 / 2 Home Away green2 Win yellow2 Draw red2 Loss 1st 2nd 3rd red1 11v11.comhttps://www.11v11.com/league-tables/ 11v11 league table generator 11v11.com 3 September 2024 FA Cup 1983–84 FA Cup thumb|upright|Mark Wright scored one of two goals in the 1983–84 season against Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup sixth round replay. Southampton entered the 1983–84 FA Cup in the third round, facing fellow First Division side Nottingham Forest. The Saints won the fixture at the City Ground 2–1, with Steve Moran scoring both goals in the last 15 minutes of the match, either side of a single goal from the hosts.Holley Chalk 2003 377 In the fourth round, the team travelled to local rivals Portsmouth, who had recently been promoted back to the Second Division as champions of the Third Division, for the first FA Cup meeting between the clubs since 1906. In a "frantic" fixture, the hosts looked closest to opening the scoring in the first half, with Southampton's Moran unable to challenge the Pompey back line. Around 15 minutes after the break, Saints defender Mark Dennis was struck by an object thrown by one of the home fans; play was delayed for a few minutes, but Dennis continued.Holley Chalk 2003 378 It was during time added on for this incident that Southampton scored the only goal of the game, with Moran converting a half-volley from a David Armstrong cross to send them into the fifth round for the first time since 1981. In the fifth round, Southampton travelled to another Second Division side, Blackburn Rovers, who were unbeaten in 16 games and had only lost once at home in the season to date. The hosts almost went ahead in the first half through Simon Garner, but centre-back Reuben Agboola made a "miraculous clearance" off the goal line to keep the Saints in the game. Shortly after the hour mark, David Armstrong scored the only goal of the game to send Southampton through to the sixth round of the competition. In their first FA Cup quarter-final since 1979, Southampton were again drawn away to a Second Division side, this time eventual promotees Sheffield Wednesday. Despite periods of domination and plenty of opportunities for both sides, the game ended in a goalless draw and went to a replay.Holley Chalk 2003 379 In the rematch at The Dell, the Saints came back from an early deficit to lead 2–1 at half-time, with Steve Williams scoring a free-kick and Mick Mills causing Gavin Oliver to score an own goal, both just before the break. Despite the difficult first 45 minutes, the hosts quickly added to their tally, with Mark Wright making it 3–1 in the 52nd minute, David Armstrong adding a fourth after 80 minutes, and Moran finishing off the scoring two minutes later. Southampton faced league rivals Everton in their first FA Cup semi-final since 1976, to whom they had lost 0–1 just two weeks earlier. The first half at Arsenal Stadium was relatively equal, with both sides coming close to breaking the deadlock – Everton through Andy Gray early on and Peter Reid shortly before the break; Southampton through Moran multiple times during the period.Holley Chalk 2003 380 The second half was largely dominated by the Toffees, with Adrian Heath and Trevor Steven both coming close on multiple occasions, testing Peter Shilton and the Saints defence. The fixture went to extra time, with Everton continuing to enjoy the majority of chances on goal; just three minutes from the end, Heath finally scored the only goal of the game, heading in from a free-kick to take the Merseyside team through to their eighth FA Cup final. Blame for the loss was directed by some, including players Frank Worthington and Ivan Golac, at manager Lawrie McMenemy, who had chosen to include Steve Williams in the starting lineup despite a recent injury – Worthington later described this as "the most costly piece of mismanagement it has ever been my misfortune to witness". Round 3 7 January 1984 Nottingham Forest 1–2 Southampton Hart 83 Moran 77 86 City Ground Nottingham 19,271 W Round 4 28 January 1984 Portsmouth 0–1 Southampton Moran 90 Fratton Park Portsmouth 36,000 W Round 5 17 February 1984 Blackburn Rovers 0–1 Southampton D. Armstrong 63 Ewood Park Blackburn 15,357 W Round 6 11 March 1984 Sheffield Wednesday 0–0 Southampton Hillsborough Stadium Sheffield 40,030 D Round 6 Replay 20 March 1984 Southampton 5–1 Sheffield Wednesday Williams 42Oliver 45 o.g.Wright 52D. Armstrong 80Moran 82 Lyons 21 The Dell Southampton 20,590 W Semi-Final 14 April 1984 Everton 1–0 yes Southampton Heath 117 Arsenal Stadium London 46,587 L League Cup 1983–84 Football League Cup Southampton entered the 1983–84 League Cup in the second round against Second Division side Carlisle United. After losing the first leg 0–2 at Brunton Park, the top-flight Saints won the second leg 3–2 after extra time to advance to the third round, with David Armstrong's fourth-minute opener followed by two goals from substitute Martin Foyle.Holley Chalk 2003 289 In the third round, the South Coast side faced Rotherham United of the Third Division; despite "dominating the play", they struggled to create chances and suffered a 2–1 defeat with all three goals scored in the first half. Round 2 Leg 1 4 October 1983 Carlisle United 2–0 Southampton Poskett 16 85 Brunton Park Carlisle 8,570 L Round 2 Leg 2 25 October 1983 Southampton 3–0 yes 3–2 Carlisle United D. Armstrong 4Foyle 86 114 The Dell Southampton 12,483 W Round 3 8 November 1983 Rotherham United 2–1 Southampton Rhodes 11Mitchell 36 D. Armstrong 24 Millmoor Rotherham 8,821 L Other matches During the 1983–84 season, the Southampton first team played an additional two friendlies. Both games took place in October and saw the Saints hosted by a side representing Kuwait and Jordan-based club Al-Ramtha, which ended in a 1–2 loss and goalless draw, respectively. Friendly 8 October 1983 KUW Kuwait XI 2–1 Southampton Holmes Bahrain L Friendly 10 October 1983 JOR Al-Ramtha 0–0 Southampton Prince Hashim Stadium Ar-Ramtha, Jordan D Player details Southampton used 22 different players during the 1983–84 season, 12 of whom scored during the campaign. Midfielders David Armstrong and Nick Holmes played in all 51 games – 42 in the league, six in the FA Cup and three in the League Cup; goalkeeper Peter Shilton and winger Danny Wallace missed just one game each – Shilton in the League Cup, Wallace in the First Division.Holley Chalk 2003 179 Steve Moran finished as the season's top goalscorer with 21 goals in the league and four in the FA Cup, followed by Armstrong on 19 goals (15 in the league and two in each cup) and Wallace on 11 goals (all in the league). Squad statistics NamePos. Playing positionNat. NationalityLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalApps. AppearancesGls. GoalsApps. AppearancesGls. GoalsApps. AppearancesGls. GoalsApps. AppearancesGls. GoalsReuben AgboolaDF DefenderNGA3306030420David ArmstrongMF MidfielderENG421562325119Ian BairdFW ForwardENG61001071Steve BakerDF DefenderENG800020100Alan CurtisFW ForwardWAL8(1)000008(1)1Mark DennisDF DefenderENG2006000260Martin FoyleFW ForwardENG2(3)0000(2)22(5)2Ivan GolacDF DefenderYUG1100000110Nick HolmesMF MidfielderENG4236030513Mick MillsDF DefenderENG3426010412Steve MoranFW ForwardENG33(1)21643042(1)25David PuckettFW ForwardENG7(11)300007(11)3Dennis RofeDF DefenderENG2(1)000103(1)0Peter ShiltonGK GoalkeeperENG4206030510Alistair SperringGK GoalkeeperENG00001010Danny WallaceMF MidfielderENG411160305011Mark WhitlockDF DefenderENG13(1)0001014(1)0Steve WilliamsMF MidfielderENG2736120354Frank WorthingtonFW ForwardENG3446020424Mark WrightDF DefenderENG3116130402Players with appearances who ended the season out on loanKen ArmstrongDF DefenderENG2600020280Ian JuryeffFW ForwardENG0(2)000000(2)0 Most appearances RankNamePos. Playing positionLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalStartsSubsStartsSubsStartsSubsStartsSubsTotal1David ArmstrongMF Midfielder420603051051Nick HolmesMF Midfielder4206030510513Peter ShiltonGK Goalkeeper420602050050Danny WallaceMF Midfielder4106030500505Steve MoranFW Forward3316030421436Reuben AgboolaDF Defender330603042042Frank WorthingtonFW Forward3406020420428Mick MillsDF Defender3406010410419Mark WrightDF Defender31060304004010Steve WilliamsMF Midfielder270602035035 Top goalscorers RankNamePos. Playing positionLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGPG Goals per game1Steve MoranFW Forward2134460325430.582David ArmstrongMF Midfielder1542262319510.373Danny WallaceMF Midfielder1141060311500.224Steve WilliamsMF Midfielder32716024350.11Frank WorthingtonFW Forward43406024420.106David PuckettFW Forward31800003180.17Nick HolmesMF Midfielder34206033510.068Martin FoyleFW Forward050022270.29Mark WrightDF Defender13116032400.05Mick MillsDF Defender23406012410.04 Footnotes References Bibliography Chalk Gary Holley Duncan A Complete Record of Southampton Football Club: 1885–1987 Derby, England Breedon Books 10 August 1987 978-0907969228 Chalk Gary Holley Duncan Bull David All the Saints: A Complete Who's Who of Southampton FC Bristol, England Hagiology Publishing 28 November 2013 978-0992686406 Holley Duncan Chalk Gary Bull David 2003 In That Number: A Post-War Chronicle of Southampton FC Hagiology Publishing Bristol, England 0-9534474-3-X Juson Dave Aldworth Clay Bendel Barry Bull David Chalk Gary Saints v Pompey: A History of Unrelenting Rivalry Bristol, England Hagiology Publishing 10 November 2004 978-0953447459 External links Southampton F.C. official website Category:Southampton F.C. seasons Southampton