Football fans hunt for all Southampton signatures

Steve and Michael Morrison have amassed more than 2,000 signatures

Two Southampton football fans are just 40 signatures away from collecting the autographs of every player that has turned out for the club since 1945.

Father and son Steve and Michael Morrison are attempting to collect signatures of 620 post-war players.

They have picked up names including Matt le Tissier, Kevin Keegan, Gareth Bale, Mick Channon and Peter Shilton.

Steve Morrrison said: "It's a fantastic collection which demonstrates our love for the football club."

The 46-year-old began collecting autographs as a child, but took on the challenge when his own son starting attending matches with him.

As well as approaching individual players, the pair use online auction sites as well as autograph dealers to build up the collection.

They have also been given a signature of CB Fry who played for the club in the early 1900s and Alf Ramsey who went on to manage England to World Cup victory in 1966 after playing for Saints in the 1940s.

Also in the collection of more than 2,000 signatures, currently kept in a couple of supermarket bags, are autographs of the 1975 FA Cup winning team and every post-war goal scorer from Charlie Wayman to Rickie Lambert.

Steve Morrison admits to not telling his wife how much they have spent on the quest.

Michael Morrison, 17, said: "Every signature is the same to us for sentimental value - every player has played their part in the history of the club."

Among the names the pair are still looking for are the late former manager George Roughton and the club's new signing Dani Osvaldo.

They are also looking for the signature of the infamous Ali Dia, who played just 53 minutes for Saints in 1996 after coming on for Matt Le Tissier - only to be substituted himself.

Then manger Graeme Souness had been duped into signing him by an agent claiming to be world footballer of the year, George Weah.

Steve said: "There's going to be someone out there somewhere who can help us track them down."

Among the pre-war autographs is that of CB Fry - a Saints player and England cricketer

The collection of signed magazine cuttings and programmes features many club legends

The pair have collected signatures of the current first team

FA Cup Final goal scorer Bobby Stokes' signature appears on a celebratory dinner menu