Nottingham-born Graham Clarke came to Southampton in the close season of 1953 as an 18 year-old with an impressive pedigree, having been capped at schoolboy level and having then captained England Youth.

In defiance of his father, who wanted him to complete his apprenticeship as a motor mechanic, Graham signed part-time professional terms.

He was the only new arrival that summer as the club regrouped following the previous season’s relegation from Division II. Converting from wing-half to full-back, he waited two-and-a-half seasons for his Reserves debut. In 1957-58, he made their No.2 shirt pretty much his own, save for a couple of games for the first team. But he would have only one more opportunity at senior level, though, as Ron Davies commandeered the right-back position in 1958-59, and would then be allowed to leave for several seasons of non-league football.

After this, he went home to Nottingham, where he worked at Raleigh. Then, moving back to Southampton, he worked – and played some football for a while – for the Post Office.