[2] In 1883, James Fellowes began negotiations for the lease and development of 8 acres (32,000 m2) land in Northlands Road which formed part of the Hulse estate.

On 26 April 1893, a team from Stoke visited the County Ground to play a friendly match against Southampton St Mary's.

Even with the future founder of football in Brazil, Charles Miller[9] playing at outside-left, the "Saints" were "outplayed fairly and squarely on every point",[10] losing 8–0.

Despite the result, it was reported that the spectators "thoroughly enjoyed the exhibition" and looked forward to witnessing "more matches of a similar character" in future.

However, with the £200 per annum rent to the County Cricket Club and with crowds of up to 12,000 attending matches, it was decided by the football club that due to the financial burden of the rent and inadequate facilities that they would move the short distance to the newly constructed Dell for the 1898–99 season.

[4] The highest score during Southampton's tenureship was in a Southern League match against New Brompton on 7 November 1896, which "the Saints" won 8–3 with a hat-trick from Willie Naughton.

In the FA Cup, Southampton defeated Swindon Town 8–2 on 2 January 1897, with Jack Farrell scoring three, and Eastville Rovers 8–1 on 11 December 1897.

In a career that spanned from 1905 to 1936, he made 138 centuries in 700 matches and heads the list of Hampshire's great run-makers.

In 1983 the ground hosted its first One Day International when Australia took on Zimbabwe in the 1983 Cricket World Cup.

Cardigan Connor who took 9–38 in 1996 and Kevan James took four wickets in four balls in the match against the touring Indians in the same year.