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and reproduced by kind permission |
The new look Southport—they charged from their red shirts to black and white stripes-enjoyed a season of mixed fortune, winning their first two home games, but failing to record a victory in any of the next seven matches. They came good just in time for the F.A. Cup and won seven successive games up to Christmas. In ten League games, from mid-January to mid-March, they only suffered one defeat and eventually finished in eighth place. The 55 League goals scored at home still constitute a club record.
The team's strength was founded on the goal-scoring ability of Harry Beadles and a very settled defence in which Edwin Worrall, signed from New Brighton, and "Topping" Sinclair were ever-present, whilst ''Salty'' Haisall was frequently at his ,brilliant best. In fact, the same deferce—Halsall, Worrall, Devine. Saxton. Martin and Sinclair-saw duty in 30 of the 46 League and Cup games. Once again though. it was in the F.A. Cup that Southport really shone.
The Cup trail started on the ground of Midland Leaguers Denaby. Southport took a comfortable 3-0 lead. but the home side hit back and the 'Port just scraped home 3-2. In the second round Southport again travelled to Yorkshire. Their opponents, 3radford Park Avenue, were ultimately promoted to the Second Division, but it was the snap of their attack and; their rock-like defence, with Halsall a marvel in goal, that pulled Southport through, despite losing outside-right Shaw early on with a broken collarbone. Halsall-in his 350th first-team game—played like one inspired and at the final whistle he received a wonderful ovation fro the Yorkshire crowd.
After losing their three previous League games, Southport progressed to Round Four by defeating Second D:vision Fulham at Haig Avenue. They achieved their 3-0 win with little difficulty: a Fulham defender scored an "own goal" in trying to divert a Beadles shot, and Tait added two more in the second half.
Middlesbrough, a Fist Division outfit, proved too strong, and with their centre-forward
Camsell in irresistable form, they beat Southport 3-0 in deplorable conditions.
Heavy rain the previous day and night continued up to half-an-hour before the
kick-off and meant that the expected record attendance-11,000 were present—never
materialised. The pitch was covered in water, and had the referee arrived and
inspected the ground before he public were admitted the game would not have been
played.
Short of cash, as ever, 'Southport got out of difficulties by resorting to transfers.
On March
7th they sold Tc,mmy Tait to Manchester City' for a then record fee for the club.
Only nineteen, Tait
had joined Southport from Middlesbrough the previous October, and scored 15 League
and Cup goals in only 19 outings. They had to pay a quarter of the fee to Middlesbrough
but, even so, they made about t:2.000 on the deal.
They followed this up by transferring Harry Marshall to Wolverhampton Wanderers. Marshall, signed two years previously from Nottingham Forest, had scored 15 goals in all, and impressed many clubs with his ball play. Ail this helped push the profits over £550, thereby reducing the overall deficit to £2.370.
Season Summary reproduced with Permission from: The Sandgrounder (Southport FC Matchday Programme) Article Series. Southport through the seasons. The League History of Southport FC, Compiled by Michael p. Braham and Geoffrey S. Wilde If you can provide any further information please contact me