Published: 01:36, 4 April 2026 | Updated: 01:36, 4 April 2026

Two FA Cup finals collide for Southampton. First, the spirit of 1976, alive beside the Solent as Tonda Eckert’s team seek to topple illustrious opposition inspired by Lawrie McMenemy’s Wembley heroes.

Fifty years ago, it was Manchester United humbled by Saints, who were then ambitious second-tier upstarts like today as the Championship side brace for an FA Cup quarter-final against Premier League leaders Arsenal.

The tie will rekindle fond memories of another FA Cup run, too, when Gordon Strachan led Saints to a final in Cardiff in 2003 only to lose to an Arsenal team that would be crowned as the Invincibles within a year.

'All you can do is leave something behind and if we left good memories, that’s success,' says Strachan, as he rewinds with Daily Mail Sport. 'The journey was fantastic.

'We had a right good side. Without an orthodox left winger, so Wayne Bridge came charging through from left back and a left-footer on the right, Fabrice Fernandes coming inside. 'We had variation and we managed to convince...