Norman Cole was an early graduate from the “George Kay Nursery Scheme” – the innovation of George Kay, who had arrived, in May 1931, to manage a financially-stretched club, which badly needed to nurture local talent. Norman was working as an engineer and agreed to sign professionally only on the condition that he would complete his apprenticeship.

When Ted Drake – an even earlier product of Kay’s kindergarten – left for Highbury in March 1934, the manager turned to Cole as the man to fill the void at centre-forward. Drake was, of course, a hard act to follow, but the Echo did their best to talk up Norman’s attributes.

Not only was he “big, strong and ruddy of hair,” but he was “vigorous and fast”.

Within a month, he had obliged with a hat-trick against West Ham. (A veritable poacher then as we shall see*). He started the next season in the possession and finished it, despite not playing after February, as top-scorer, with eight goals – an indicator of how the team was struggling. After which, he promptly left for Norwich, where ex-Saint, Tom Parker, had not long been in charge.

After just one season – and but one first-team appearance – he returned to Southampton and, not yet 23, retired from the game. Using his engineering qualifications, Norman worked for Southern Railways in Southampton Docks before he moved to Folland’s, where he helped in the development of the Gnat aircraft. He retired in 1974.

*In December 1934 he had the ignominy of being found guilty in a Southampton court of “pursuing of game without a license”.