The club were unable to repeat their success in the FA Cup and were eliminated in the First Round, but compensated for this failure by claiming the Southern League title for the fourth time in five seasons.

[2] The financial situation worsened in 1900–01, with the gates dwindling following the doubling of the entrance fees the previous year from sixpence to a shilling, and the club generated a loss of £740.

Both the players at the centre of the dispute surrounding the team selection for the final, Roddy McLeod and Jack Farrell were released, as were defenders Meechan, Durber and Petrie.

[2] Another amateur goalkeeper, the South African Wilf Waller also joined the club on a part-time basis and played in the opening match of the season when Jack Robinson was suspended.

[9] In December, C. B. Fry (described as "arguably the greatest all-round sportsman of his generation") did play for the club, making his debut at right-back in the Boxing Day match against Tottenham Hotspur.

"[2] The Saints started their attempt to regain the Southern League trophy with a 4–3 win at Luton Town followed by a defeat at West Ham United and a goalless draw at Portsmouth.

With three matches left to play, Southampton led the table but Portsmouth had a game in hand and could still overhaul the Saints, although their away form was poor.

The draw for the First Round of the FA Cup produced a repeat of the same stage from the previous season, a home match against Everton of the Football League First Division.

Everton overran the Saints in the second half, with goals from Jimmy Settle, Jack Taylor and Joe Turner,[16] who had left Southampton in 1898 (but would return in 1901).

The other Southampton players selected were Archie Turner, making his second (and final) international appearance, and Jack Robinson, who was now the established England goalkeeper.

[20] The match was played at The Dell in front of a modest crowd of 8,000[20] who had expected a "landslide" victory, especially as the Irish players had experienced bad weather on their ferry crossing.