Southport got off to a dreadful start in 1991-92 and were actually bottom of the
table in late September. It was October 5th before the first League win came and
though the sequence of seven games without defeat that this inspired ended at
Leek on November 9th, there then began an even longer run of 16 League games without
defeat which lasted until the visit to Goole Town on March 21st. In the end Southport
claimed seventh place in the table, far higher than had appeared likely early
on.
The reason for the failure to capitalise on the success of the previous year lay
in the departure of several key players. Steve Holden had left abruptly for Morecambe
and when, in July, Rochdale came in with a £10,000 bid for his scoring partner
Steve Whitehall, the offer — augmented by extra sums based on appearances
and goals — could not be refused. Almost immediately his colleague the versatile
Alan McDonald joined Witton Albion and, after lengthy negotiations, Stuart Bimson
was transferred to Macclesfield Town. Of Kettle's close season signings only the
impish Jon Senior was to make a significant impact. A period of retrenchment was
obviously due.
The corner was turned with the arrival in late September of the controversial
red-haired striker Tony Jarvis from Witton. His debut sparked the first win and
his successful linking with Jimmy Blackhurst up front compensated in part for
the absence of the two 'Steves'. The attack was later reinforced by the surprise
return of local favourite Kevin McCormack, who scored regularly in his third spell
with the club, and little Steve Joel — the very last link with the Football
League days — who, at 37, showed an amazing turn of speed and a prodigious
capability with a throw-in!
More seriously, whilst Ian Baines had returned from an operation on his leg the
previous summer, the cruciate ligament injury sustained by Jimmy Blackhurst in
the Liverpool Senior cup-tie at Tranmere Rovers in March looked to have finished
his career. Surgery eventually came to his aid also, but it was two years before
he was to take the field again for Southport.
A good run in the F.A.Trophy, long overdue, also brightened the 1991-92 season
and featured some resounding victories, notably at Alnwick and Rhyl; but it ended
in disaster at Farnborough Town on February 1st when some suspect team selection
— including Kevin McCormack's relegation to the subs' bench —could
not be held entirely to blame for the 5—o defeat. A more cheerful note had
been struck earlier in the season when the authors staged the second great Players'
Reunion, ten years on from the first, with invitations being extended this time
to some of the prominent performers from the N.P.L. days. The Prince of Wales
Hotel was the venue and the attendance of well over 100 former footballers demonstrated
the affection in which the club is still held.
Candidates for 'Player of the Year' had included the popular Paul Moore in goal
and the ever-consistent Kevin Mooney but in the end both supporters' and players'
awards went to Bob Howard, whose resolute performances in the centre of the defence
had held the side together throughout. It was thus all the more surprising that
he failed to command a place the following term and soon departed; but 1992-93
was a season of surprises.
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