Southampton’s 1976 FA Cup winners will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the club’s only major trophy with another open-top bus tour of the city.

Manager Lawrie McMenemy was back at the Civic Centre with four of his Wembley heroes - Jim Steele, Paul Bennett, Hughie Fisher and Nick Holmes - to unveil plans for next year’s celebrations, 39 years to the day after that special 1-0 win against Manchester United.

Thousands lined Southampton’s streets to welcome the players back in ’76 – and the same bus will be used next year.

Organiser Mike Osman said: “We won’t do the full tour but will go round some of the key places on the Sunday and finish up back here at the Civic Centre, with the blessing of the council.

“We’ll wander over to the Mayflower Theatre for the main show that evening, with big-screen clips, analysis and messages from the world of sport.

“Tommy Docherty, the Manchester United manager that day, will be there and we’re hoping the Queen, who presented the Cup, will send us a telegram.

“We’ll also have a whole week of events – a golf day, lunches and personal appearances from the players.

“These guys deserve the recognition and respect. A lot of younger supporters wouldn’t know them if they bumped into them so it’s about raising awareness of the players that gave this city its greatest sporting day.

“It’s a chance for the city to say thank you because these guys deserve it. They were a team of no- hopers according to the pundits of the day, but they inspired the city.”

Two of the 1976 heroes, Peter Osgood and goalscorer Bobby Stokes, have sadly passed away, but the rest of the squad is expected to be in attendance next year.

Nick Holmes was one of those at the Civic Centre for the official launch, hosted by Councillor Sue Blatchford in the Mayor’s Reception Room – which has the balcony from which the players looked out on a sea of red and white all those years ago.

“We’re a very fortunate bunch, only a few people every year win an FA Cup final and it doesn’t mean the same nowadays,” said Holmes, 60.

“So today is a special day because 39 years on, people still want to talk about the FA Cup win and celebrate it.

“It was an amazing day. Certain things stand out; Stokesy’s swing of the left foot for the only goal, the 15-minute bus ride around the city that became four hours, and playing QPR in Micky Channon’s testimonial the next day.”

Tickets for the 40th anniversary celebrations will be available at the Mayflower Theatre Box Office from Tuesday.