The second in our series looking at Saints best ever central strikers, this time we look at Derek Reeves, don't forget to come on to the message board after the last nominee to vote for your favourite.

Derek Reeves was doing his National Service and playing for Bournemouth Gasworks when Saints spotted his potential and snaffled him from under the noses of the Cherries.

Like Wayman before him, Reeves was short for a central striker, but he made up for that with his bustling style and lethal finishing, his career at Saints started with the club at its lowest ebb in the old Third Division South and for several years he was the scourge of the lower leagues being Saints top scorer for four consecutive seasons culminating in 39 goals in the 59/60 season creating not only a club record but a third division record both of which remain intact today.

But despite still only being 26 when Saints returned to division two, he found the step up a little hard, he played 35 times but would score only 10 goals in the league, although in the innaugral League Cup season he had more success, in one of the longest games ever played at the Dell due to floodlight failure he would hit all five goals as Saints beat Leeds 5-4 despite being down to 10 men with Ron Reynolds in goal being forced off through injury.

The following season was proving just as tough for Derek, in 39 league games he netted only 10 times and George O'Brien had taken on the mantle of top scorer, the arrival of George Kirby hastened his departure to his native Bournemouth although a young man in the wings called Martin Chivers must have made the decision to cash in on Reeves a little easier.

All in all Derek played 273 times in the League for Saints scoring 145 goals, plus 21 FA Cup games for 14 goals and 10 League Cup games for 9.

Photo: Action Images

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