1896–97 Southampton St. Mary's F.C. season
Date Position Name From
Summer 1896 FW Robert Buchanan Woolwich Arsenal
Summer 1896 GK George Clawley Stoke
Summer 1896 FB Harry Haynes Small Heath
Summer 1896 FB Donald McKay Woolston Works
Summer 1896 FB James McKie Freemantle
March 1897 HB William Ponting Ryde
Summer 1896 FW George Seeley Local football
Transfers -- In
The 1896-97 season was the twelfth since the foundation of Southampton St. Mary's F.C. and their third in league football, as members of the Southern League. The season was the most successful yet, with St. Mary's claiming the Southern League title for the first time and reaching the Second Round Proper of the FA Cup. It was the start of the most successful period in the club's history - in a period of eight years, they were Southern League champions six times and reached the final of the FA Cup twice.