Southampton's Young Men's Association (YMA) forms in 1881.
In 1882 Deanery Association were established as an offshoot of the Deanery Cricket Club.
At the start of November 1885, the YMA holds a meeting at the Grove Street schoolrooms and form an association football section.
They play their first match as St. Mary's Young Men's Association on 21st Nov 1885, against Freemantle. St. Mary's ran out 5-1 winners at the back field of the County Cricket club. Four of the first eleven had links with Deanery.
St. Mary's would win their first trophy, the Hampshire Junior Cup in 87/88, and had dropped any links with the St. Mary's church by the end of 1887. St. Mary's retained the cup in the following two season.
In 1889/90 Saints were prestigious enough to warrant their first regular home at the Antelope ground.
Also in 1889/90 came the first appearance of the "Saints" on white badges with red stripe originating from the ordinance office.
