On This Day: January 24th

For the first time in the club’s history, the dismissal of Blackpool on this day in 1931, meant that the Sandgrounders found their name in the hat for the fifth round of the FA Cup.

First Division Blackpool were clear favourites for the tie ahead of their
Third Division Northern section opponents. Indeed, every seat allotted to Southport’s seaside rivals had been sold with 24 hours with special trains and buses arranged to bring their supporters for what they assumed would be a good day out and a kind result.

To Alderman Edwin Clayton, who had taken over the secretarial duties of the club, fell the task of meeting with the big rush for tickets.

The attendance was a record, eclipsing even that of the famous victory over Blackburn Rovers 4 years earlier,. It was officially given as 13524, although many present suspected was closer to the 15000 mark, and produced record gate receipts reported to be £1,380.

With the fifth round draw the following Monday afternoon producing a very winnable tie at home to Bradford Park Avenue, cup fever was running high and the attendance record would be broken again when Avenue come to visit.