After a shaky start to the new season in the renamed 'Multipart League' a brilliant
mid-term run involving a club record ten consecutive victories in senior competitions
saw Southport soar to third place in the table whilst reaching the third round
of the F.A. Trophy.
The matches against Scarborough of the Gola League ranked as particular successes;
eventually a strong Kidderminster Harriers side put Southport out 6—i on
a windswept night at Aggborough; but the incoming Peter King, Ronnie Naden, George
Carr, Tony Quinn and John Coleman were quality performers at this level. The outstanding
performance was undoubtedly the display in the first round game at Telford United
where each of Southport's four classic goals outshone the one before. This 4-2
victory on the ground of one of the major non-League sides may be seen as a turning-point
in Southport's post-League era.
Andy Mutch was transferred to Wolves immediately after the Trophy involve¬ment
was ended for a five figure fee and Southport slipped back. Yet even after a disastrous
April they still finished in sixth place with 17 wins — the most since 1978-79.
Sources: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F. C., by Michael Braham and Geoff Wilde (Palatine Books, 1995). ISBN 978-1-874181-14-9