Ernie Nicholls was coming 17 when he first turned out for the Saints in 1888. Over the next six seasons, in which the side was mainly playing friendlies, he would consistently score goals – 40 in all. His appearances in competitive football – across all five forward positions – would run from the club’s first-ever match in the Hants Senior Cup to the last one ever played in that competition by the first team (save for a brief flirtation with Aston Villa, where he never made the Football League side).

He also played in the Saints’ first-ever FA Cup-tie, in which he became the first man to score in that competition for the club.

Retiring from football after all those firsts, he continued to play cricket for the Deanery, becoming captain in 1902, while working as a commercial traveller, selling lead glass. A season ticket-holder at The Dell for more than 60 years, Ernie was in his 100th year when he died. Len Butt is the only ex-Saint to have lived longer.