Saints mourn passing of Mel Blyth

Blyth, 79, played for the club between 1974 and 1977, making 136 appearances, the most famous of which came at Wembley Stadium in his penultimate year as a Saint.

Like his fellow centre-back Jim Steele that day, Blyth turned in a towering performance in the final, as Lawrie McMenemy’s Second Division side produced one of the greatest cup shocks in history, beating the mighty Manchester United 1-0 to lift the trophy.

It was a win that wrote Blyth’s name, as well as his teammates, into Saints folklore, although he had already established himself as a key player in the side long before that point.

Joining in 1974 from Crystal Palace, where he had played more than 200 games, Norwich-born Blyth won the fans’ vote for Player of the Season in his first campaign with the club, and was a firm fixture at the heart of defence, either alongside Paul Bennett or Steele.

He would depart Saints in 1977, being loaned back to Palace, before a spell Millwall followed.

Everyone at the club sends their condolences to all of Mel’s loved ones at this time.

Mel Blyth
July 1944 - January 2024