The summer of 1987 saw some big changes in the appearance of Haig Avenue. Following
ground safety recommendations all the covered terracing on two sides of the ground
had to be demolished and for the next six years only the main stand afforded protection
from the elements. Four upright stanchions and a cross-piece were all that remained
at the Scarisbrick New Road end as a gaunt reminder of happier days; on the 'popular'
side the bottom six steps of the once twenty deep terracing were left in place.
With Multipart withdrawing their sponsorship, the league reverted to the N.P.L.
for 1987-88; but Southport's season proved a huge disappointment. At the outset
it threatened to surpass all that had gone before, since, by October 3rd, the
club had won eight and drawn the other three of their opening eleven games, with
a mere four goals conceded. Young Rob Sturgeon, whose father, the Liverpool comedian
Bobby Kaye, was newly appointed vice-chairman, had developed into a commanding
central defender and celebrated his moth N.P.L. game early in the season. Paul
Lodge lent support in midfield after Peter King departed to Marine.
Suddenly it all went wrong. Four weeks of deteriorating form ended with the shock
resignation on November 6th of manager Griffiths. In a statement he dissociated
his decision from recent results, referring obliquely to decisions taken off the
field during a period of enforced absence through work commitments. As club captain
Lodge briefly held the reins until the appointment, on November 17th, of the mercurial
Micky Taylor, previously youth team trainer at Preston North End and a former
Southport reserve player back in the 'sixties.
A period of flux ensued as the axis of the team shifted from Merseyside to central
Lancashire. Paul Evans returned in goal, while one by one Coleman, Lodge and full-back
Robbie Armstrong departed, the last named for a gross breach of club discipline.
The club finished 14th in the table and lost two cup finals, the N.P.L. President's
Cup disappearing 4-5 to South Liverpool over two legs after Southport had, at
one stage, led 3—o away.
One N.P.L. Cup game is worthy of note, if only for the attendance — at Haig
Avenue — of just 77 spectators. The game was played in hurricane conditions;
goal-kicks going behind for corners were not uncommon — Paul Evans put one
such out of the ground behind him! David Eyres, who finished top scorer for the
season, scored both the goals which beat Gainsborough Trinity 2-I, one of which
not unexpectedly flew in directly from a corner kick. It was a tribute to both
sets of players and the officials that the game was completed at all.
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