Past Seasons - 1926/1927

Division: Third Division (North)

Copyright Historical Football Kits
and reproduced by kind permission

This season will best be remembered as the year Southport first assumed their role of giant -killers.

After the debacle of the previous season the Directors appointed Charles Parker as Secretary-Manager-he had just completed eight years as Secretary of Preston North End—and wisely re-engaged Frank Jefferis as trainer-coach. The side was built around two Welsh Internationals—Harry Beadles, a free-scoring inside-forward from Sheffield Wednesday, and Jack Newnes, a centre-half from Nelson.

Despite a poor start to the season during which time "Topping" Sinclair was absent owing to a dispute with the club over terms, the team eventually settled down; Wrexham were defeated 6-0 with Sapsford scoring four and Beadles two, New Brighton were thrashed 7-2 with both Marshall and Beadles hitting hat-tricks, and Walsall were beaten 6-1, Beadles again scoring three goals. In all, 80 League goals were scored, and Southport finished in a comfortable 12th position; but it was in the F.A. Cup Competition that the club really hit the headlines, progressing further than ever before and netting E2.000 in the process.

They were lucky to draw with Tranmere Rovers at Haig Avenue in the first round—George Sapsford scoring a late equaliser. However, the 'Port played splendidly in the replay at Prenton Park. Beadles opened the scoring with a beautiful header and George Jones seated the victory with a brilliant goal.

Crook Town were easily accounted for in the second round at Haig Avenue, and the third round draw paired Southport with First Division Blackburn Rovers. Southport had an o:d score to settle with the Rovers, as they had knocked out the 'Port five years earlier. Blackburn. a side with a great Cup tradition fell at their first hurdle; first young Tommy Wnite-schoolboy star of the early 'twenties—surprised the experienced Sewell, Blackburn's goalkeeper, to put Southport ahead and then, after the interval, Beadles scored the second.

Unfortunately, an injury prevented Beadles from taking part in the fourth round tie, when Southport finally met their match, losing 3-1 at Anfield in front of 51,6,10 (receipts £3,200) which still remains the highest crowd before which they have played. Southport appeared overawed by the occasion, and were well beaten on the day: had Liverpool's shooting not been so wayward the score would have been higher still. The team which faced Liverpool was: Halsall; Allan, Glover: Sinclair, Newnes, Bimson; Jones (G. W.). Marshall, Bradley, Sapsford and White.

Shortly afterwards Tom White was transferred to Everton, where he enjoyed great success. helping Everton to two championships and gaining a cup-winner's medal and an England Cap against Northern Ireland. The substantial fee received for him and the good Cup run resulted in Southport recording a profit of over £1.300 on the year.

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
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Position Team P W D L F A GA Pts
1 Stoke 42 27 9 6 92 40 2.300 63
2 Rochdale 42 26 6 10 105 65 1.615 58
3 Bradford Park Avenue 42 24 7 11 101 59 1.712 55
4 Halifax Town 42 21 11 10 70 53 1.321 53
5 Nelson 42 22 7 13 104 75 1.387 51
6 Stockport County 42 22 7 13 93 69 1.348 49
7 Chesterfield 42 21 5 16 92 68 1.353 47
8 Doncaster Rovers 42 18 11 13 81 65 1.246 47
9 Tranmere Rovers 42 19 8 15 85 67 1.269 46
10 New Brighton 42 18 10 14 79 67 1.179 46
11 Lincoln City 42 15 12 15 90 78 1.154 42
12 Southport 42 15 9 18 80 85 0.941 39
13 Wrexham 42 14 10 18 65 73 0.890 38
14 Walsall 42 14 10 18 68 81 0.840 38
15 Crewe Alexandra 42 14 9 19 71 81 0.877 37
16 Ashington 42 12 12 18 60 90 0.667 36
17 Hartlepools United 42 14 6 22 66 81 0.815 34
18 Wigan Borough 42 11 10 21 66 83 0.795 32
19 Rotherham United 42 10 12 20 70 92 0.761 32
20 Durham City 42 12 6 24 58 105 0.552 30
21 Accrington Stanley 42 10 7 25 62 98 0.633 27
22 Barrow 42 7 8 27 34 117 0.291 22

Source: Wikipedia the free encyclopedia and reproduced under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

FINAL TABLE LANCASHIRE COMBINATION '26-'27
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 1. Rossendale United          38-60 (129-65)  27  6  5  Champions    
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 2. Chorley                    38-59 (111-45)  25  9  4          
 3. Morecambe                  38-50 (105-58)  23  4 11          
 4. Barnoldswick Town          38-48 (125-79)  21  6 11          
 5. Dick Kerr's                38-48 (105-68)  21  6 11          
 6. Accrington Stanley II      38-47 (109-75)  19  9 10          
 7. Lancaster Town             38-47  (96-76)  21  5 12          
 8. Southport II               38-43  (93-82)  20  3 15          
 9. Clitheroe                  38-42 (100-91)  17  8 13          
10. Horwich RMI                38-41 (106-76)  18  5 15          
11. Darwen                     38-36  (89-98)  15  6 17          
12. Fleetwood                  38-33  (63-82)  14  5 19  (left)
13. Bacup Borough              38-32  (82-92)  12  8 18          
14. Nelson FC II               38-31  (72-90)  12  7 19          
15. Preston North End II       38-28  (77-93)  10  8 20          
16. Atherton                   38-28  (76-122) 12  4 22          
17. Hindley Green Athletic     38-25  (93-146) 10  5 23          
18. Wigan Borough II           38-24  (73-120)  9  6 23          
19. Colne Town                 38-23  (55-127) 11  1 26  left  
20. Great Harwood              38-15  (55-129)  5  5 28

Source: The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation.Author Dinant Abbink