List of Southport F.C. seasons explained

Southport Football Club is an English association football club based in Southport, Merseyside who currently play in the Conference National.[1] This list details the club's achievements in senior league and cup competitions, and the top scorers for each season where known.

Southport Central were formed in 1881 and played their first association football match on 12 November of that year against Bootle.[2] [3] Originally a rugby union side the club switched codes after suffering a succession of heavy defeats. The club became founder members of The Central League in 1911.[4] In 1918, the club was renamed as Southport Vulcan [5] – having been bought by the Vulcan Motor Company – becoming the first club to take a sponsor's name.[6] [7] In 1919, the sponsorship from Vulcan ended thus meaning a final name change, this time to Southport. In 1921, all first teams playing in the Central League became founder members of the newly formed Football League Third Division North including Southport, with the Central League becoming a league for Football League reserve teams.[8]

Statistics

Key

Division shown in bold when it changes due to promotion, relegation or league reorganisation. Top scorer shown in bold when he set or equalled a club record.

Key to league record:

Key to colours and symbols:

style=background:gold1st or W Winners
style=background:silver2nd or RU Runners-up
style=background:PaleGreenPromoted
style=background:PinkRelegated
style=background:yellowTop league scorer in Southport's division

Seasons

scope=col rowspan=2Seasonscope=col colspan=9Leaguescope=col rowspan=2FA Cupscope=col rowspan=2League
Cup
scope=col rowspan=2 colspan=2Other competitionsscope=col colspan=2Top scorerscope=col rowspan=2Average
attendance
scope=col rowspan=2References
scope=colDivisionscope=colPscope=colWscope=colDscope=colLscope=colFscope=colAscope=colPtsscope=colPosscope=colNamescope=colGoals
scope=row1882–83R1
scope=row1883–84R1
scope=row1884–85R3
scope=row1885–86R1
scope=row1888–89QR2
scope=row1889–90Lancs249784032256th
scope=row1890–91Lancs208394355196th
scope=row1891–92Lancs2212375847275th
scope=row1892–93Lancs2272133344168th
scope=row1893–94Lancs2213095742363rd
scope=row1894–95Lancs2614486843324thR1
scope=row1895–96Lancs3017497251384th
scope=row1896–97Lancs28162108451344th
scope=row1897–98Lancs26133105141297th
scope=row1898–99Lancs241284411832bgcolor=silver2ndQR5
scope=row1899–1900Lancs2814594932337thQR5
scope=row1900–01Lancs201532491533bgcolor=silver2ndQR5
scope=row1901–02Lancs241644562536bgcolor=silver2ndQR5
scope=row1902–03Lancs221723491836bgcolor=gold1stQR5
scope=row1903–04Lancs C2342365823052bgcolor=gold1stQR5
scope=row1904–05Lancs C13417895941423rd
scope=row1905–06Lancs C13811101770963217thQR4
scope=row1906–07Lancs C1381413115050419thQR5
scope=row1907–08Lancs C138187136463436th
scope=row1908–09Lancs C1381381761673414th
scope=row1909–10Lancs C1381371861673318th
scope=row1910–11Lancs C13811151255613711th
scope=row1911–12TCLR1
scope=row1912–13TCL381262044763015th
scope=row1913–14TCL3810101843583017th
scope=row1914–15TCL381062242682619thQR3
scope=row1915–16FLLS2696114141249th
scope=row1916–17FLLSA30108124043289th
scope=row1917–18FLLSA30861633692213th
scope=row1918–19FLLSA30153124953336th
scope=row1919–20TCL421562171763616th
scope=row1920–21TCL421362368993218th
scope=row1921–22Div 3 N381410145544389thR1Billy Glover26[9] [10]
scope=row1922–23Div 3 N381271932463117thQR5Billy Glover7[11]
scope=row1923–24Div 3 N421614124442467thQR6Jack Sibbald13[12]
scope=row1924–25Div 3 N42227135937514thQR6Jack Sambrook
17[13]
scope=row1925–26Div 3 N4211102162923220thR3Jack Sambrook14[14]
scope=row1926–27Div 3 N421591880853912thR4Harry Beadles20[15]
scope=row1927–28Div 3 N42206177970458thR4Harry Beadles23[16]
scope=row1928–29Div 3 N421681875854012thR2Harry Beadles18[17]
scope=row1929–30Div 3 N421513148174439thR1Jimmy Cowen24[18]
scope=row1930–31Div 3 N42229118856535thQFArchie Waterston31[19]
scope=row1931–32Div 3 N401810125853467thR4Archie Waterston13[20]
scope=row1932–33Div 3 N421771870674112thR4Jack Appleby13[21]
scope=row1933–34Div 3 N428171763903318thR1Football League Third Division North CupR1Jack Diamond20[22]
scope=row1934–35Div 3 N4210122055853221stR1Football League Third Division North CupR1Ray Worswick18[23]
scope=row1935–36Div 3 N421192248903121stR1Football League Third Division North CupR3Tommy Savage12[24]
scope=row1936–37Div 3 N4212131773873714thR2Football League Third Division North Cupbgcolor=silverRUJoe Patrick29[25]
scope=row1937–38Div 3 N4212141653823816thR1Football League Third Division North Cupbgcolor=goldWJoe Patrick20[26]
scope=row1938–39Div 3 N422010127554504thR3Joe Patrick27[27]
The Football League and FA Cup were suspended until after the Second World War.
scope=row1946–47Div 3 N427112453852521stR1Harry Hawkins17[28]
scope=row1947–48Div 3 N4214111760633915thR1Cec Wyles25[29]
scope=row1948–49Div 3 N421192245643121stR3Cec Wyles12[30]
scope=row1949–50Div 3 N4212131751713716thR3Cec Wyles8[31]
scope=row1950–51Div 3 N4613102356723621stR2Jimmy Nuttall22[32]
scope=row1951–52Div 3 N4615112053714117thR2Jack Lindsay15[33]
scope=row1952–53Div 3 N462012156360516thR2Jack Billingham16[34]
scope=row1953–54Div 3 N4617121763604611thR2Jack Billingham
Colin McLean
11[35]
scope=row1954–55Div 3 N4616161447444811thR1William Holmes12[36]
scope=row1955–56Div 3 N462311126653575thR2George Bromilow22[37]
scope=row1956–57Div 3 N4610122452943222ndR1George Bromilow
Jimmy McDermott
8[38]
scope=row1957–58Div 3 N461162952882823rdR1Ray Gryba9[39]
scope=row1958–59Div 4467122741862624thR1Jimmy McDermott11[40]
scope=row1959–60Div 44610142248923421stR1Eddie Moss12[41]
scope=row1960–61Div 4461962169674414thR3R1Reg Blore15[42]
scope=row1961–62Div 4441791861714317thR3R1Jimmy Blain20[43]
scope=row1962–63Div 446151417721064413thR1R2Jimmy Blore20[44]
scope=row1963–64Div 4461592258893220thR2R1Alan Spence27[45]
scope=row1964–65Div 4468162258893220thR3R1Alex Russell16[46]
scope=row1965–66Div 44618121668694810thR5R1Alan Spence18[47]
scope=row1966–67Div 446231310694259bgcolor=PaleGreen2ndR1R1Alan Spence13[48]
scope=row1967–68Div 34617121765654614thR3R1Terry Harkin21[49]
scope=row1968–69Div 3461713167164478thR2R2George Andrews19[50]
scope=row1969–70Div 346141022486638bgcolor=pink22ndR1R2Tony Field16[51]
scope=row1970–71Div 446216196357488thR1R1Eric Redrobe12[52]
scope=row1971–72Div 4461814661446507thR1R2Eric Redrobe12[53]
scope=row1972–73Div 446261010714862bgcolor=gold1stR1R2Andy Provan21[54]
scope=row1973–74Div 34661624358228bgcolor=pink23rdR1R1Andy Provan7[55]
scope=row1974–75Div 44615171456564711thR1R1Paul Taylor12[56]
scope=row1975–76Div 4468102841772623rdR1R2Keith Galley9[57]
scope=row1976–77Div 4463192433772523rdR1R1Alan Wilson6[58]
scope=row1977–78Div 44661921527631bgcolor=pink23rdR1R2Phil Ashworth9[59]
scope=row1978–79NPL441914116249525thR1John Gerrard
Terry Nolan
John Beesley
8579[60]
scope=row1979–80NPL428132130752919thQR4FA TrophyR2Steve Woodcock5291
scope=row1980–81NPL4211112042683320thQR1FA TrophyQR3Vin Dobie
Paul Birchall
5237
scope=row1981–82NPL421614126355468thQR1FA TrophyQR1Gary Cooper21417
scope=row1982–83NPL4211141758654715thQR1FA TrophyQR3Gary Cooper15299
scope=row1983–84NPL421482057745016thQR3FA TrophyQR2Joe Strong10311
scope=row1984–85NPL421591865665412thQR2FA TrophyQR2Andy Mutch21308
scope=row1985–86NPL421711147066626thQR3FA TrophyR3John Coleman15323
scope=row1986–87NPL421911126749688thR1FA TrophyR1John Coleman25316
scope=row1987–88NPL4215124543485714thQR1FA TrophyRQ3John Coleman9385
scope=row1988–89NPL4213121766525114thR1FA TrophyQR1Clint Neysmith13359
scope=row1989–90NPL421714115448657thQR4FA TrophyQR1Steve Holden12304
scope=row1990–91NPL40181486648685thQR2FA TrophyQR1Steve Holden20455
scope=row1991–92NPL42161795748657thQR2FA TrophyR2Jimmy Blackhurst12365
scope=row1992–93NPL4229941033196bgcolor=gold1stR2FA TrophyQR3Steve Haw311025
scope=row1993–94Conf421812125751664thQR4FA TrophyR3David Gamble151293
scope=row1994–95Conf42219126850723rdR1FA TrophyR1David Gamble
Steve Haw
121078
scope=row1995–96Conf421812127764666thQR4FA TrophyR1Andy Whittaker16944
scope=row1996–97Conf4215101751615511thR1FA TrophyR2Andy Whittaker19970
scope=row1997–98Conf4213111856585016thR1FA Trophybgcolor=silverRUAndy Whittaker81055
scope=row1998–99Conf4210151747594518thR3FA TrophyQFLee Elam71158
scope=row1999–2000Conf421513145556589thR1FA TrophyQFIan Arnold141307
scope=row2000–01Conf42209135846694thR2FA TrophyQFIan Arnold
Simon Parke
131423
scope=row2001–02Conf4213141553495315thR1

Football League Trophy

----

FA Trophy

----

R3

Simon Parke161048
scope=row2002–03Conf42111219546945bgcolor=pink21stR2

Football League Trophy

----

FA Trophy

R1(N)

----

R5

Peter Thomson121161
scope=row2003–04NPL44201014715270bgcolor=PaleGreen6thQR2FA TrophyR2Neil Robinson14809
scope=row2004–05Conf Nor422598834584bgcolor=gold1stR1FA TrophyR3Terry Fearnsbgcolor=yellow33♦1004
scope=row2005–06Conf Nat4210102236684018thR1FA TrophyR1Steve Daly121244
scope=row2006–07Conf Nat46111421576747bgcolor=pink23rdQR4FA TrophyR2Carl Baker111200
scope=row2007–08Conf Nor42221197750774thQR4FA TrophyR1Tony Gray191014
scope=row2008–09Conf Nor42211386336765thQR3FA TrophyQFCiaran Kilheeney16899
scope=row2009–10Conf Nor4025114914586bgcolor=gold1stR1FA TrophyR1Steve Daly18924
scope=row2010–11Conf Nat4611132256774621stR1FA TrophyR1Shaun Whalley81152
scope=row2011–12Conf Nat462113127269767thR1FA TrophyR1Tony Gray241290
scope=row2012–13Conf Nat4614122072865420thQR4FA TrophyQFChris Almond
Karl Ledsham
12958
scope=row2013–14Conf Nat4614112153715318thR1FA TrophyR1Danny Hattersley91049
scope=row2014–15Conf Nat4613122147725119thR3FA TrophyR11070
scope=row2015–16National 46 14 13 19 52 65 5516thQR3FA TrophyR2
scope=row2016–17National 46 10 9 27 52 97 39bgcolor=pink23rdR1FA TrophyR2
scope=row2017–18National N 42 14 8 20 60 72 5015thQR2FA TrophyQR3
scope=row2018–19National N 42 13 14 15 58 55 5314thR2FA TrophyR1
scope=row2019–20National N 32 12 7 13 40 41 4312thQR4FA TrophyR2
scope=row2020–21National N 14 4 4 6 16 19 1617thQR3FA TrophyR5

Notes

A. : The League Cup competition started in the 1960–61 season.

B. : Includes goals only scored in league games (including play-offs).

C. : Founder members of the Lancashire League.

D. : Equal points as 1st place team but lost on goal average.

E. : Joined Lancashire Combination as founder members of new Division 2.

F. : Following a disagreement with the Lancashire Combination, Southport joined forces with other disgruntled teams and formed The Central League.

G. : Central League suspended due to outbreak of the First World War. Southport competed in the Football League Lancashire Section, Northern Group Principal Competition.

H. : Leagues reorganised again. Southport competed in the Football League Lancashire Section, Northern Group Principal Competition Group A.

I. : The Central League resumed after the war.

J. : Southport were founder members of the Football League Third Division North.

K. : Southport became the first Third Division North club to reach the quarter-finals in 1931, losing away at Everton 9–1.

L. : A new Fourth Division was created in 1958 along with a new Third Division by merging the regionalised Third Division North and Third Division South.

M. : Southport were subjected to a re-election vote by other league clubs after having finished in the bottom four and were duly voted out of the football league and into the Northern Premier League.

N. : With the formation of the Alliance Premier League (officially called Football Conference from 1986), the Northern Premier League dropped down one level in the English football league system and became a feeder league to the Alliance.

O. : The 1981–82 season saw the introduction of three points for a win.

P. : Southport's first appearance in the final of a major knockout cup competition, which was a 1–0 defeat to Cheltenham Town. It is also the first time Southport have played at Wembley.

Q. : The 2001–02 edition of the Football League Trophy saw 8 Football Conference sides (Top four Northern teams and four Southern) playing in the competition. As a result of Southport being the highest placed northern team by finishing 4th in the 2000–2001 season they qualified for the competition for the 2001–02 season.

R. : The 2002–03 edition of the Football League Trophy saw 12 Football Conference teams playing in the competition. Despite Southport finishing the 2001–2002 season in 15th place they qualified due to most of the teams who finished above being geographically southern.

S. : Formation of the Conference North and Conference South divisions for the 2004–05 season saw the top 13 teams from the Northern Premier League promoted to form the new divisions alongside teams from the Southern League and the Isthmian League.

T. : Southport lost in the play-off semi-final to Stalybridge Celtic on penalties after finishing 2–2 on aggregate.

U. : Farsley Celtic were removed out of the division with their results being expunged.

V. : Rushden & Diamonds were expelled from the Conference National on 11 June 2011. This decision was made due to their unstable financial position, meaning they could not guarantee being able to complete all their fixtures in the 2011–12 season,[61] Southport, as the highest placed relegated team were thus reprieved.

References

General
Specific

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Conference National Table. BBC Sport. 15 June 2013.
  2. Web site: History of Southport Football Club. Southport Football Club. 16 June 2013. it was on Thursday 12th November 1881 that Southport took to the field against Bootle "second" in their first match under Association Rules... dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130620141052/http://southportfc.net/pages.php?page_id=571. 20 June 2013.
  3. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 16. Braham. Wilde .
  4. Web site: Southport Central. Football Club History Database. 15 June 2013.
  5. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 37. Braham. Wilde .
  6. Web site: Vulcan Motor and Engineering Co. Graces Guide. 15 June 2013.
  7. Web site: History of Southport Football Club. Southport Football Club. 15 June 2013. taken over by the Vulcan Motor Company – playing as Southport Vulcan for one season, the first club to use a sponsorship label as part of their name.. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130620141052/http://southportfc.net/pages.php?page_id=571. 20 June 2013.
  8. Web site: Reserve League . The Football League . 15 June 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120426171851/http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/ReserveLeague . 26 April 2012 .
  9. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. Palatine Books. 978-1-874181-14-9. 210–11. Michael Braham. Geoff Wilde . 1995.
  10. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F. C. 1995. Palatine Books. 978-1-874181-14-9. Michael Braham. Wilde .
  11. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 212–213. Braham. Wilde .
  12. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 214–215. Braham. Wilde .
  13. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 216–217. Braham. Wilde .
  14. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 218–219. Braham. Wilde .
  15. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 220–221. Braham. Wilde .
  16. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 222–223. Braham. Wilde .
  17. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 224–225. Braham. Wilde .
  18. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 226–227. Braham. Wilde .
  19. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 228–229. Braham. Wilde .
  20. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 230–231. Braham. Wilde .
  21. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 232–233. Braham. Wilde .
  22. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 234–235. Braham. Wilde .
  23. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 236–237. Braham. Wilde .
  24. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 238–239. Braham. Wilde .
  25. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 240–241. Braham. Wilde .
  26. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 241–242. Braham. Wilde .
  27. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 244–245. Braham. Wilde .
  28. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 248–249. Braham. Wilde .
  29. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 250–251. Braham. Wilde .
  30. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 252–253. Braham. Wilde .
  31. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 253–254. Braham. Wilde .
  32. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 256–257. Braham. Wilde .
  33. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 258–259. Braham. Wilde .
  34. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 260–261. Braham. Wilde .
  35. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 262–263. Braham. Wilde .
  36. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 264–265. Braham. Wilde .
  37. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 266–267. Braham. Wilde .
  38. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 268–269. Braham. Wilde .
  39. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 270–271. Braham. Wilde .
  40. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 272–273. Braham. Wilde .
  41. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 274–275. Braham. Wilde .
  42. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 276–274. Braham. Wilde .
  43. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 278–279. Braham. Wilde .
  44. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 280–281. Braham. Wilde .
  45. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 282–283. Braham. Wilde .
  46. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 284–285. Braham. Wilde .
  47. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 286–287. Braham. Wilde .
  48. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 288–289. Braham. Wilde .
  49. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 290–291. Braham. Wilde .
  50. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 292–293. Braham. Wilde .
  51. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 294–295. Braham. Wilde .
  52. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 296–297. Braham. Wilde .
  53. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 298–299. Braham. Wilde .
  54. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 300–301. Braham. Wilde .
  55. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 302–303. Braham. Wilde .
  56. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 304–305. Braham. Wilde .
  57. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 306–307. Braham. Wilde .
  58. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 308–309. Braham. Wilde .
  59. Book: The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F.C.. 310–311. Braham. Wilde .
  60. Web site: Urwin. Rob. Season by Season attendance details. Southport F.C. Stats. 17 September 2012.
  61. News: Rushden expelled from Conference . BBC News . 11 June 2011 . 27 November 2011.