Mark Draper

Southampton's only cash signing during the close season, Mark came to The Dell in search of a new challenge having spent a large part of the 1999-2000 campaign exiled from the Premiership in Spain. An experienced campaigner, he took some time to settle on the south coast and his progress was hampered by a series of niggling injuries and some indifferent form. He made the starting line-up for the opening games but then found himself relegated to the subs' bench. Perhaps his best performance of the season came at Middlesbrough in February when he scored the winner with a cracking drive from the edge of the penalty area. An experienced midfield player who doesn't give the ball away easily, he links well between defence and attack.

Mark was forced to retire from senior football in December 2003 due to an ankle injury.