History
The club was originally formed as Echo Social and played in the City of Southampton Sunday League. Following their promotion to the Senior section in 1973, the team was re-named Road-Sea after the freight shipping company owned by player-manager Peter Price. [1] They continued their rise up through the divisions, winning every possible honour. In 1976–77 they reached the semi-final of the national FA Sunday Cup. [2]
With the aid of the company's financial backing, the club purchased some land at Marchwood, near Southampton and soon developed the site into an impressive facility. This resulted in an ambitious application to join the semi-professional Southern League being surprisingly accepted in 1982, despite the club having no previous history of playing Saturday football. [3]
Whilst in the Southern League Southern Division, the club became known as R.S. Southampton and soon silenced their critics as they pushed for promotion to the Premier Division and after finishing a creditable 3rd in their debut season behind champions Fisher Athletic and Folkestone, they won promotion as champions in 1983–84. [4] That season, they also enjoyed a fine run in the FA Vase where they reached Round 5 before being eliminated 1–2 away at Leyton Wingate.
Road-Sea continued to thrive in the highly competitive Premier Division as they then finished 5th in 1984–85. The following season was much tougher and the club finished mid-table. [5]
In 1986 Road-Sea became founder members of the newly created Wessex League. [6] They then finished runners-up, reached the final of the Hampshire Senior Cup but won both the League and Russell Cotes Cups. However, their short but successful history was ended suddenly in June 1987 when Price retired and withdrew his financial backing. [7]
Ground
Road-Sea Southampton played at the self-titled Road-Sea Park, Long Lane in Marchwood, near Southampton. [10]
Following their demise, the ground was renamed 'Staplewood' and later sold to Southampton F.C., who initially used it for reserves and youth team games. [11] The venue has since been redeveloped in to a large training complex with world class facilities. [12]
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