RAMS, SANDGROUND TO DUST?

The first weekend in January heralds the 3rd Round Proper of the FA Cup. Notable non-leaguers (all from the Conference) surviving this far are Southport, Gateshead (see past blog), Wrexham and over Athletic. Southport FC, 20th in the Conference Premier have drawn an away tie at Derby and hope to spring a surprise. It is unlikely, but the Sandgrounders, as Southport are affectionately known, would love to get the Rams back to the Merseyrail Community Stadium, where a capacity of 6000 fans would enjoy the dehorning of the beast.

Southport FC formed originally when local private schoolboys and rugby players got together in the late 1870s. By 1881 the club played its first proper football, including a match against Bootle FC and in October 1882 against the, even now strictly amateur, Liverpool Ramblers from Crosby, they played their first FA Cup tie, drawing 1-1 and then losing the replay 0-4. By 1921 the club was able to join the newly formed Football League Third Division North, but when they were forced to apply for re-election (having come last in the division too often) they were replaced by Wigan Athletic in 1978. They were the last club to leave the FL by vote. These days it is done purely by position. 

Famous FA Cup matches for Southport are few and far between but a trouncing by Everton 1-9 in a quarter-final might rate as one their greatest moments! I know all about Bill Perry (a South African) and Stanley Mortensen (Cup Final hat trick man), who both played for Blackpool in the 1953 Cup Final but they started their time at Southport. So did John Bishop the comedian, Billy Bingham (famed for N Ireland), Alex Parker (Scotland and Everton), Luther Blissett (famously Watford, England and AC Milan )and Jimmy Melia (Liverpool FC): unfamiliar names to many of you but well known to us older ones. Best of luck you Sandgrounders!