Jack Dollin was the first Saints player to be financially remunerated for his services. Although he would later be candid about

being paid a “pound a week and given a job,”

his professional status was a long-kept secret, to the confusion of historians aiming to establish just who was the first player to be paid by the club. Jack’s ability to play in any forward position meant that he missed only one of the Saints’ seven Cup matches in 1892-93. By the end of the season, however, he was carrying an injury to both knees and returned to his previous club, Freemantle. He did return briefly in 1894 but, despite the side’s expanding program of Cup commitments, never had a game. After a short wander, the covert professional duly became a re-instated amateur and a stalwart of Eastleigh Athletic as well as residing in the railway town.