SAINTS’ FA Cup winning captain Peter Rodrigues will not be involved in the 40th anniversary celebrations of the famous Wembley victory.

Rodrigues has apologised for his absence in a special video message that will be shown at the tribute show, which takes place at the Mayflower this Sunday.

However, the former full-back cannot attend any of the events for personal reasons.

The organiser of the 40th anniversary events, Mike Osman, admitted that he will be a big miss as the surviving members of the squad and legendary manager Lawrie McMenemy head into a week that will see three celebration events.

They include a golf day tomorrow and a gala dinner on Friday, before it’s all capped-off with an open-top bus parade and theatre show on Sunday.

“Peter will be sorely missed but, unfortunately, for personal reasons he cannot be there,” Osman explained.

“He has recorded a lovely message for Lawrie and the boys and we wish him all the very best.”

Rodrigues, who is still based in Southampton, will forever be remembered as the man that collected the FA Cup off The Queen at Wembley after Saints’ famous 1-0 victory over Manchester United.

He was in the twilight of his career in 1976, but went through a two-year renaissance at Saints, which was topped off with the momentous FA Cup victory.

The full-back was on the brink of retiring from football and started to pursue other avenues after relegation with Sheffield Wednesday.

However, the misfortune of Dell defender Steve Mills – who was involved in a car crash – changed things and they brought in Rodrigues as a stop-gap while Mills recovered.

He was to have enormous impact and went on to make 75 appearances at the club, becoming captain in October 1975 after Mick Channon opted out of the role.

Rodrigues missed only one league match in 1975/76 and none of the FA Cup run. As a result, he became a Dell icon.

He was heavily involved in the 30th anniversary celebration in 2006, but is unable to participate in this year’s reunion.

In the video message set to be shown at the Mayflower show, which follows Saints match with Manchester City, Rodrigues talks fondly about the famous FA Cup run.