and later known as Southampton St Mary's,[1] they became a professional club in 1891,[2] and co-founded the Southern League in 1894.
[6][9] The club first entered the First Division in 1966,[10] and currently play in its modern-day counterpart, the Premier League.
[14] Southampton's first team have competed in a number of regionally and nationally contested leagues.
The team that Southampton have met most often in league competition is Tottenham Hotspur, who they first played in the 1896–97 Southern League season; the 66 defeats from 154 meetings is more than they have lost against any other club.
Coventry City tie with Tottenham Hotspur for most league draws against Southampton, with 39 in 122 meetings.