To bag a hat-trick on your debut, as the Swaythling-born Nicky Banger did against Rochdale in the League Cup and then have to wait almost two more seasons to be trusted with your first League start must be a rarity within the game, but at that time, the Southampton forward contained Matt Le Tissier, Alan Shearer and Rod Wallace which explains why over those two years Nicky’s appearances were restricted to just ten outings from the bench.

He started 1994-95 with a spectacular, if trademark goal against Blackburn, accelerating on to a long Le Tissier through ball – “Matty used to hit passes like that for fun in training” he explained “so I could read what he was going to do” – to chalk up one of Matt’s “Top Ten” assists.

Yet after only three more games he was off to Oldham, just relegated from the Premier League, initially on loan but soon on a permanent basis.

He celebrated his 24^th birthday by scoring twice – his first goals after a barren five months at Boundary Park – but, hampered by niggling injuries, he would score infrequently over the next few seasons, before being released on a free transfer. He admits that turning down Hearts “was not one of my best decisions,” although he enjoyed his two seasons at the Manor Ground. Since the boots were hung up he got involved in the corporate and commercial side with Aldershot and Woking but more recently has become CEO of The Knights Foundation a group that helps children with disabilities and their families.

His daughter, Sophia, has cerebral palsy so it is a charity Nicky holds has dear to his heart and he is wont to involve as many of his old Dell colleagues as possible in his quest to raise funds for such a worthy cause.