Southampton Rangers have added incentive to put their best foot forward during this season’s FA Cup.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Premier Division club’s sole triumph to date in the prestigious competition.

Rangers claimed a maiden FA Cup title after defeating Devonshire Colts 2-0 after extra-time in the 1983-84 final that was decided in a replay at the old National Stadium.

The first encounter ended in a 1-1 draw after extra-time with Rangers super sub Mike Williams coming off the bench to grab a 78th minute equaliser to cancel out Earl Richardson’s 30th minute strike.

Williams, whose son Mike Jr plays for Wolves, also came off the bench to score in the replay played at the same venue a week later.

The goal that finally settled the thrilling cup final arrived four minutes into the second period of extra-time of the replay when an attempted clearance by Al Furbert, the Colts defender, rebounded off Gladstone ‘Old Hell’ Robinson, the goalkeeper, and bounced across the line.

Willians put the match further beyond Colts’ reach six minutes later after steering the ball from outside of the area past the onrushing Robinson to send the FA Cup on its way to Southampton Oval for the first time.

“We will never forget that day ... it was definitely a highlight in the club’s history,” recalled Olin Jones, the Rangers midfielder, who was 19 at the time. “Rangers have not won too many trophies when it comes to football, so to win the FA Cup was a thrill for the fans and everybody.

“The build-up to the match was extraordinary, especially for Rangers to be there. It was definitely a big occasion for everybody up at Rangers to get into an FA Cup final and win it.

“I must admit it was a hard fought game, but we came out on top, which was the main thing. It was not easy because Colts had some stalwarts out there.”

Colts’ formidable line up included player-coach Gary Darrell, Albert Dowling and former Bermuda skipper Lorenzo Symonds.

“It was disappointing to lose that final,” said Darrell, who went onto become Bermuda’s coach a few years later. “Personally I didn’t play as well as I expected to in the first game. I played better in the second game but unfortunately we lost.”

Rangers’ ‘84 FA Cup triumph arrived 28 years after losing 3-1 to BAA in the inaugural final at the National Stadium.

The South Shore club have appeared in six FA Cup finals overall.

Earlier this week Rangers were drawn against nine-times champions North Village in the quarter-finals of this season’s FA Cup. The two teams will clash at Southampton Oval on February 9.

Maurice Lowe, the Rangers coach, is looking forward to the challenge.

“The FA Cup is one of our targets and in order to be the champions you are going to have to take on all comers,” Lowe said. “I’d much rather play a top team like North Village because they make us concentrate and play at our best, so I am looking forward to the challenge.”

Rangers and Village have met twice already this season in the league. Village won the first encounter 3-2 at Southampton Oval last October and were held to a 1-1 draw in the return fixture at Bernard Park last weekend.