FORMER Saints striker Colin Clarke has reflected on “good” times playing for the club at The Dell, and picked out teammates he supported as “world-class”.

The 60-year-old, who scored 39 goals in 98 appearances between 1986-89 for the Southampton side, made an instant impact with a hat-trick versus Queen’s Park Rangers on his debut. 

Clarke went on to score 20 in his first Division One campaign, also helping them to the League Cup semi-final, and bagged a further 16 next season before his Saints career tailed off in its third year.

After a short spell at QPR, Clarke did move across Hampshire to Portsmouth – meaning he had completed the south-coast set, after running out for Bournemouth between 1985-86.

However, he looks back at his time at The Dell fondly, telling the Daily Echo: “It was a good club that had been in the First Division for a long time.

“Someone said because of The Dell and playing there, it was tough for teams to come and play. But we had some very good players back in those days; Peter Shilton, Kevin Bond, Jimmy Case, Glenn Cockerill – I can go on and on.

“They deserved to be where they were. And they're a very good team. Alan Shearer came a little bit later, Matt Le Tissier. So, yeah, it was a very good squad,” Clarke added.

“They made some changes as things moved on but some great young kids come through and took them to another level. They've had their struggles since then as well.”

Clarke then reminded us who his instant hat-trick came against – and it was none other than a future England legend in the QPR goal.

“Against Dave Seaman, and I also played with Dave. So it was nice to stick three past him on that first day!

“I had a good, very good first season there. I think it was 20 goals, and I think I only missed out on being top score to Clive Allen at Tottenham.”

As Clarke mentioned, Premier League legends Le Tissier and Shearer made their Saints debuts during his spell as forward.

The Northern Irish international laid two goals on for Shearer during his iconic maiden hat-trick versus Arsenal as a 17-year-old.

“Alan was always just a goalscorer but I wouldn't say naturally, he had to work hard at this game, but he was a very, very good player,” Clarke said.

“Strong in a lot of ways. Typical older centre-forward, and not to say he couldn't play now, because he could. Very, very good player. Both feet strong. Could head the ball.”

He continued: “Le Tiss was always a little bit more unpredictable, which was just brilliant and a lot of ability.

“He loved Southampton and was never going to move and never going anywhere else. They just were world-class players.”

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