May 2023 Update

Those regular visitors to this website may have noticed one or two design changes of late. The reason for that is that there is some exciting news for the Former Players Association (FPA).

The FPA was created in 2019, as an independent entity to ensure that the club’s history and heritage was properly recognised, specifically the efforts of its former players and staff, after a significant period of upheaval at the club.

Supported by the new board of directors, club staff, and a volunteer committee, since that time the FPA has been able to meet each of its primary objectives, from the promotion of the history and heritage of the club, to the creation of a framework through which its members could participate in club activities, and the creation of a Hall of Fame into which 25 former players have been inducted so far.

Having successfully achieved those primary goals, as secretary of the FPA I approached the club earlier this season to discuss the future and I am pleased to be able to tell you that the club have agreed with my suggestion that the primary functions of the FPA would be better served as part of the club itself, rather than as an independent entity moving forwards.

I’m pleased to say that Rob Urwin, who has sat on the committee of the FPA since its inception, and is now the club’s Head of Media, will ensure that the objectives of the FPA continue to be met under club oversight.

Furthermore with the club’s new partnership with the Big Help Project in place, there will be more opportunities for members to engage in community activities via the club’s Community Trust.

With the FPA therefore set to become part of the club itself, content specifically related to the FPA will now be held on the club website meaning that this website will revert back to its original form as an independent history site managed and maintained by myself. One of the many changes that you may have noticed therefore has been a rebranding to “Southport Central” to reflect the name under which the club was first created and that this website is dedicated to its history.

Following the publication of my first book last year, which looked at the circumstances leading up to the clubs creation in 1888, I am now returning to researching the early years, focusing on the years following its formation and prior to their entry into the Football League in 1921.

DJH