Successive Southampton managers had signed a procession of outside-lefts in the early post-war seasons, so it was something of a novelty when local boy, John Mitchell, made his debut in that position, in September 1950, at Luton.He was not an immediate success – the Echo felt the game was “above his class” – but on his home debut, four days later, a national reporter enthused that

“Mitchell uses the ball with real purpose.”

But having featured seven times in a run of eight games, his first-team career was over. He was placed on the list at the end of the season. Second Division Barnsley were keen but John wasn’t. Turning his back on football, he trained to be an accountant. By the time he reached retirement age, he was working for the National Westminster bank in Shirley, not far from The Dell.