THEY were the youngsters hoping to earn an experience not even money could buy.
The 1996 Soccer Challenge welcomed record numbers of teams from various schools taking part in a six-a-side football tournament.
The event was sponsored by the Southern Daily Echo, M&W local stores and Southampton Football Club.
One of the attractions for the youngsters was that Saints first team players who went along to watch the action, sign autographs and scout out the new footballing talent.
The final was to be played in front of thousands of people at The Dell – shortly before a Saints Premier League match.
The teams on these pages travelled to Andover for the first rounds of the competition on February 27, 1996.
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