By Nathan Jackson
June 19 2011

Southport were this year's winners of the AGM Cup after surviving purely on the misfortune of Rushden and Diamonds. The Merseysiders were relegated on the final day of last season but were saved last week for a second straight year in the Blue Square Premier.

WEBSITE 

For a non-league side, Southport have had a fair number of famous names playing for them, and not just famous names from the football world. Stand up comedian John Bishop once played for them, as have numerous former England internationals including Mark Wright, Peter Davenport, Luther Blissett, Stan Mortensen and numerous others.

The men from the 6,008 capacity Haig Avenue are a rarity in non-league terms. They have been founder members of two clubs, are one of the few clubs to switch from part time to full time and then back again and they have spent nearly 60 years in the Football League. As traditionally viewed non-league teams go, Southport are about as prestigious as we're likely to face over the next twelve months.

They were founded in 1881, making them one of the oldest clubs in the country and they became founder members of the Division 3 North in 1921. A few years later they became the first side from that level to reach the 6th round of the FA Cup, although they did lose 9-1 to Everton. When England won the World Cup, Southport were the oldest club in the country to have never won promotion, but that all changed a year later as they finished as runners up in Division Four. Their 57 year spell in the Football League ended in 1978 and they ended up in the Northern Premier League, a division they would be in until 1992.

After being founder members of Division 3 North, they followed that up by being the founder members of the Conference North and they became in inaugral Champions of that division. A few years in the Conference ended soon before ex-Imp Gary Brabin's first dip into management failed to yield promotion, he left a few weeks later to take up the manager's job at Cambridge. He lost the Playoff Final in his first year there before quitting, remaining out of management before a spell with Luton towards the end of last season, again losing the Playoff Final and becoming the first manager in history to fail in the Playoffs three times with three different sides and in the space of three calendar years (May 2008 - May 2011).

In 2006 they had gone full time but their failure to win promotion back to the Conference early on saw them revert to their part time nature, however, it paid off as they were promoted with only four defeats to their name in 2009/10.

Last year they took part in arguably the best FA Cup match of the season in an enthralling match against Sheffield Wednesday, the televised game seeing six goals scored in a single twelve minute period, with the game eventually ending 5-2 to Wednesday. Southport would eventually be relegated on the final da of the season but they were saved at last week's AGM meeting after Rushden were ejected from the division.

Getting to know the Blue Square Premier : Southport

Discussion started by theimps.ka (IP Logged), 19/06/2011 00:43

theimps.ka
19/06/2011 00:43

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.

Reply Quote Report

Goto: Forum List•Message List•Search• Log In

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment. We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals. We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards. If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing abuse@sportnetwork.net