The next season began with Corporal Kenneth Campbell, formerly of Liverpool and Partick Thistle, in goal; he was destined to be capped nine times by Scotland after the war. Admission was now 6d. for adults and 3d. for boys with an additional 1d. government tax on top. On Boxing Day 1916 Southport scored their most notable victory of the season before an Anfield crowd of 15000 and with Campbell, who had returned to Liverpool, guarding the home goal. George Schofield, a Crossens lad, scored the game's only goal from the left wing. Although they played good class football the team could again finish only ninth, though they improved one place in the subsidiary section.
Central League Suspended 1915-1919
Southport competed in the Football League Lancashire Section, Northern Group Principal Competition Group A.
The Principal competition for the 1916–17 season consisted of sixteen teams, two more than in the 1915–16 season with the addition of Blackburn Rovers and Port Vale.
1. Liverpool FC 30 19 8 3 62:26 46
2. Stockport County FC 30 18 7 5 61:31 43
3. Stoke FC 30 16 7 7 64:36 39
4. Manchester City FC 30 14 9 7 49:29 37
5. Everton FC 30 15 7 8 62:41 37
6. Burnley FC 30 15 4 11 73:56 34
7. Manchester United FC 30 13 6 11 48:54 32
8. Rochdale FC 30 12 5 13 47:54 29
9. Southport Central FC 30 10 8 12 40:43 28
10. Bolton Wanderers FC 30 9 6 15 59:65 24
11. Blackburn Rovers FC 30 10 4 16 52:66 24
12. Preston North End FC 30 8 7 15 47:65 23
13. Bury FC 30 7 8 15 40:63 22
14. Oldham Athletic AFC 30 8 6 16 36:65 22
15. Port Vale FC 30 7 7 16 50:60 21
16. Blackpool FC 30 6 7 17 44:80 19
Lancashire Section, Northern Group Subsidiary Competition
For the Subsidiary Competition, the Lancashire League was divided in two with the games played amalgamated at the end of the season to give a composite table.
Southport were placed in Group B
Group B
1. Everton FC 6 4 1 1 16: 5 9
2. Stockport County FC 6 2 3 1 6:10 7
3. Liverpool FC 6 2 1 3 13:10 5
4. Southport Central FC 6 1 1 4 5:15 3
