Tony Funnell was representing his county when the manager of the Sussex team suggested Southampton take a look. He was soon on his way to The Dell from Eastbourne United. Going straight into the Reserves’ attack for 16 consecutive games, he caught the eye with eight goals. The close-season arrival of Phil Boyer, to renew his famed partnership with Ted MacDougall, perhaps suggested that Tony’s first-team opportunities could be limited. Yet by the fourth game of the season, he had made his debut as sub and scored on his full debut.

Appearances in both Cups apart, he was then back in the Reserves for six months, maintaining his 1:2 scoring ratio,

before starring in the first team’s run-in to promotion, with seven goals in 12 games, including the memorable header at Orient, which all but secured promotion.

He thus outscored Boyer and MacDougall, who contributed five apiece to that run, but he modestly credits Phil and Ted with being such a handful that it gave him “time and space to do the business.” If the fans now expected great things of their new goal-scorer, they were to be disappointed.

After just a couple of top-flight games, Tony was on his way to Gillingham. He is philosophical about it: “Lawrie shipped out a lot of youngsters for good fees”, he reflects. “They did well at their new clubs and Saints moved on to a higher level.” After a year with the Gills, Tony was signed, in turn, by two ex-Saints: for Brentford by Bill Dodgin Junior (albeit that he never made his father’s first team at The Dell); and for Bournemouth by David Webb. But then a specialist called a halt to Tony’s League career, at the premature age of 25, following damage to discs in his lower back. By just playing but not training for a while, so as to rest his back, Tony rediscovered his appetite for the game at Poole Town, his service for whom was rewarded with a testimonial against the Saints.

Grabbing goals for fun at non-league level, he became the Dolphins’ record goal-scorer and completed a hat-trick of promotions with Southampton, Bournemouth and Poole. He also put in a shift as Poole’s commercial manager. Tony has continued to live in the Poole area, running a community coaching scheme and a soccer school, while frequently appearing at St Mary’s as an analyst for the PFA and the Press Association.