The 1901 census revealed that Cecil Christmas was a boarder at Banister Court school – just a stone’s throw from the newly-built Dell – where he gained a reputation as a good all round sportsman. He first joined Southampton on Hampshire League forms during the 1908-09 season but, succumbing to competing for business claims, he quit football in 1910. Being aware of Cecil’s pace and dribbling skills, the Reserves’ manager, George Carter, persuaded him to return to The Dell in March 1912, this time on Southern League forms. He soon made his first-team debut, a 1-3 loss, but was badly injured on his second outing, a 3-2 win, a week later. Although retained for the following season, Cecil was forced to retire prematurely.

His father, Edwin had died in January 1911 and in that year’s census, Cecil and an elder brother, William were listed as the licence holders at the Edinburgh Hotel which was at the Six Dials end of St Mary’s Rd. (Edwin had originally taken on the pub after leaving the navy where he had been a captain’s steward.)

Joining the 1/28th London Regiment as a private in June 1915, he was promoted to Second Lieutenant in the 18th Battalion Kings Royal Rifles. In the final phase of the Battle of the Somme Cecil Christmas was killed in action.

His brother, William (now the licensee of the Shirley Hotel) initially received a telegram informing him Cecil had been wounded but, ten days later, another telegram brought the grim news that he had died from his wounds. He is commemorated on the Thiepval memorial and also at the memorial plaque for the fallen in the two World Wars, which was unveiled at St Mary’s stadium in 2018