Lord Duckhunter brought up the history of the league positions of Portsmouth of Southampton, hence I brought up our past history which included winning the first division.
Saints were winning top league titles before anyone had thought of PoorOldPompey. They are Johnny come latelys. Their history cannot match ours.
The Southern League is hardly the same as a four division Football League. I think most people would agree that English football as a whole was more competitive in the early 50s than in the late 19th century/early 20th century when there were fewer teams (no offense to them).
Dunno where you got the idea that I have in-depth football knowledge from! Though I do remember reading that Southampton won the Southern League a few times in the early 20th century. Though I think we won it a couple of times too. If your Southern League wins were not what you were referring to, what were you referring to out of interest?
Absolutely right. The other evening I heard a pundit make reference to the Southern League, as it was, as Non-League football. Now that is ignorance of the subject on an extraordinary level. The professional SL was every bit a quality match for the corresponding FL, during the time of the split leagues. BTW, the pundit was referring to the fact that Spurs, of the Southern League won their first FA Cup around that time.
Oh right, that's what he meant. Well, I am aware that the Southern League was hardly the equivalent of non-league and was of a similar level to the football league at the time. Nor was I saying that it was a low level competition or anything. However, as far as I'm aware the Southern League did not have any relegation or promotion. In a league system with promotion, the stronger teams will naturally reach the upper levels, so in the top division, you'll (in theory) be playing more of the best teams, regardless of geography (i.e you'll be playing the best from the south, the best from the north, the midlands, London, etc depending on which teams are in the top division that season).
Indeed, so when the FA Cup [the only event for comparison] had finalists and winners from the Southern League, for season after season, then you realise it was hardly Non-League.
I was having a conversation with a Dutch bloke the other day. I told him the same thing, forget your Cruijff, Neeskins, Van basten,Van Persie, forget your total football of '74 & '78, forget your 3 World Cup finals, you've never won the big one mate and that is all that counts. He then decide to go off and support the mighty Uruguay, who had one the big one and were therefore clearly a much better team. Of course football is all about the past, and has nothing to do with the now.