It was perhaps one of the finest youth teams Saints have ever known.

This photo shows a team of the club’s apprentices from the 1986/87 season – featuring the likes of Matt Le Tissier, Alan Shearer, Francis Benali, Rod Wallace and Ray Wallace.

It is a line-up that probably would have done pretty well were it around now.

Recalling those days, Benali said: “I look back at that time of my life and my career, coming into the football club on a full-time basis, with very fond memories.

“Working under someone like Dave Merrington, who turned us from schoolboys into men, preparing us physically and mentally for life in professional sport or the wider world – it was a tough schooling, but an enjoyable one.

“I think that showed in the success we had as a youth team, and in the number of players that went on to play in our first-team or elsewhere – Steve Davis played countless games for Burnley, Allen Tankard for Port Vale, Andy Cook had a career with a number of clubs.

“Rod and Ray Wallace went on and had good careers, Shearer’s speaks for itself, Neil Maddison – a large chunk of that squad went on and did very well for themselves within football or life.

“Leroy Whale, for example, became a very successful businessman.

“The nice thing whenever you bump into them, or meet at a social event, is that you immediately just go back to that last time you were together and just pick up from exactly where you left off.

“Even the year above us, there was the likes of Phil Parkinson, Ian Hamilton, Mark Blake, Craig Maskell and Chrissy Wilder.

“They were good teams, and it was great to play with those sorts of players, and make friendships that do last a lifetime.”

It was clear to Benali even from those days that some of his teammates were destined for great things, particularly Le Tissier and Shearer.

“Matt has always stood out, with his ability and talent,” he said.

“It was obvious the gift that he had from day one.

“Someone like Shearer, you could see the talent he had, but also that sheer determination and drive to be the best he could and to compete against any opponent.

“He had that focus and that lack of fear – that confidence to be the best, right from a youngster.

“Players like Rod Wallace, he was a dream to play behind. He was as quick as they come and although he was slight of stature, he had wonderfully quick feet and would score goals.

“Players like that were not only good young players, but they seamlessly transferred that across to the top level.

“It’s no surprise so many of those boys went on to have great careers.”

The above photo shows: Back (from left): Allen Tankard, Matthew Le Tissier, Steve Davis, Neil Maddison, Jamie Webb. Middle row: Andy Cook, Leroy Whale, Ray Wallace, Keith Granger, Peter Spargo, Ian Down, Greg Llewellyn. Front: Francis Benali, Barry Wilson, Alan Shearer, Phil Underhill, Rod Wallace, Jason Walkington. 

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