The 1917-18 season saw the arrival of another splendid goalkeeper in Tommy Capper who went on to play for Dundee and subsequently Southend United when they were elected to the Third Division. Even so, he had to pick the ball out of the net six times in the first match against Everton. Southport born Billy Waring was in the Goodison side and Frank Jefferis was among the scorers. Bert Rigsby another to play in the early Northern Section days, was also acquired from Everton. In defence were Crump, a left-back from West Bromwich and C.Roberts, a strong wing-half from Bristol Rovers. Southport eventually finished thirteenth out of the sixteen clubs and slipped back to bottom in the subsidiary tournament.
Central League Suspended 1915-1919
Southport competed in the Football League Lancashire Section, Northern Group Principal Competition Group A.
1. Stoke FC 30 22 4 4 109:27 48
2. Liverpool FC 30 21 6 3 101:26 48
3. Everton FC 30 19 6 5 92:36 44
4. Manchester City FC 30 15 8 7 57:28 38
5. Stockport County FC 30 17 3 10 59:32 37
6. Rochdale FC 30 14 9 7 78:51 37
7. Bolton Wanderers FC 30 13 4 13 68:70 30
8. Manchester United FC 30 11 8 11 45:49 30
9. Oldham Athletic AFC 30 11 6 13 50:59 28
10. Preston North End FC 30 12 3 15 38:53 27
11. Port Vale FC 30 9 8 13 47:58 26
12. Blackpool FC 30 10 5 15 46:70 25
13. Southport Central FC 30 8 6 16 33:69 22
14. Bury FC 30 8 5 17 46:64 21
15. Burnley FC 30 5 4 21 32:104 14
16. Blackburn Rovers FC 30 2 1 27 22:127 5
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 A
1. Liverpool FC 6 5 0 1 24: 7 10
2. Everton FC 6 5 0 1 19: 7 10
3. Stockport County FC 6 2 0 4 6:13 4
4. Southport Central FC 6 0 0 6 1:23 0
