Stewart and Saints inspired by spirit of '76
Ross Stewart believes the spirit of ‘76 is helping Southampton’s class of 2026 continue to defy the odds in the club’s bid to recreate history 50 years on.
Saints will return to Wembley after reaching the Emirates FA Cup semi-finals by knocking out Premier League leaders Arsenal at St Mary’s, as Stewart followed up his winner at Fulham in the fifth round with the opening goal on a raucous night in SO14.
Saints were pegged back by the Gunners in the second half before Shea Charles won the quarter-final tie in dramatic fashion five minutes from time.
Saints’ players have been sporting a special commemorative kit throughout this season’s cup run to mark the 50th anniversary of the club’s finest hour, and this week Stewart met David Peach, a member of the ’76 squad who scored in the semi-final, to tap into his cup-winning wisdom.
“We’ve chatted a wee bit amongst the dressing room,” Stewart said of the 1976 triumph, “and obviously getting to know David throughout the week and his stories from way back then, maybe it’s just a bit of that FA Cup magic slash history that’s maybe helping us.
“There are a lot of tough games to come, but if we can try and sway that wee bit of history or wee bit of knowledge to help us, we’ll do that, but it’s a massive semi-final to look forward to now.
“I’d imagine we’ll go out in the kit again and hopefully with that 1976 spirit from 50 years ago, who knows it could be our year, but we’re in the fight and we’ll be fighting until the last minute.”
Stewart has experienced mixed emotions at Wembley, scoring in a 2-0 victory in the League One play-off final with Sunderland in 2022 before being an unused substitute at the end of an injury-ravaged season as Saints defeated Leeds in the Championship showpiece in 2024.
“I’m really relishing it,” he said of returning to the national stadium. “The semi-final of the FA Cup doesn’t come along for every player, and it’ll certainly be my first taste of it.
“Obviously I’ve been to Wembley a couple of times. With Saints it probably wasn’t how I would’ve pictured it – I wasn’t involved and didn’t feel as part of it through injuries – but the time before that with Sunderland I felt very part of it.
“Regardless of whether I’m part of it or not, I hope we go there and win. I’m desperate to be involved, I want to be involved, I love playing the big occasions and there’s no bigger than Wembley.
“Hopefully I can go there and continue this wee scoring streak that I’m on in this cup, but between now and then it’s fully focused on league business, and hopefully I can score a few goals between now and then too.”
Saints are back in action at St Mary's next Saturday when play-off rivals Derby County are the visitors (3pm BST). Tickets start from £25 for Adults and £15 for Juniors.
