Alistair Sperring

Alistair Sperring initially joined the Southampton F.C. Academy as an apprentice in July 1980 at the age of 16, before signing professional terms in August 1983.^[1] He made his first and only appearance for the club on 8 November 1983 in the third round of the League Cup against Rotherham United, which the Saints lost 2–1.^[2] During the game, the goalkeeper missed the ball with a punch and collided with teammate Mark Wright, who had to be substituted off due to a broken nose.^[1][2]

After a brief loan spell with Swindon Town between August and September 1984,^[3] Sperring left Southampton.^[4] He completed a trial for Reading in January 1985, and later joined Bognor Regis Town in September 1985.^[1] The goalkeeper returned to Hayling Island in 1987 to end his playing career with Hayling United.^[1] After retiring from football, Sperring entered the motor industry and eventually became the managing director of Havant Motor Factors, a spare parts specialist.^[1]

• Chalk, Gary; Holley, Duncan; Bull, David (2013), All the Saints: A Complete Players' Who's Who of Southampton FC, Hagiology Publishing, ISBN 978-0992686406
• Holley, Duncan; Chalk, Gary; Bull, David (2003), In That Number: A Post-War Chronicle of Southampton FC, Hagiology Publishing, ISBN 978-0953447435