1923/24 Season Summary

The season started with Southport in tremendous form. They took nine points from the first six games and led the table. Peter Mee, a 22-year-old signed from Manchester City, scored the only goal credited to the side in each game. Mee played in thirteen games at inside-left before his mysterious disappearance on November 5th; the following month he was found drowned in the River Mersey near Sale Golf Club—an unfortunate end to a promising career.

Other newcomers included Charles King, a centre-half from Millwall, William Kettle, an outside-left from Grimsby, Harry Cousins, an inside-forward from Stockport
County. and Frank Jefferis, a thoughtful and experienced schemer. who came as player-coach, having previously assisted Southampton, Everson and Preston North
End.

During the early part of the season former Irish International Jimmy Mulligan arrived from Manchester City and came into the side at left-back, to accommodate him Jimmy “lodger” Tootle, a diminutive but powerful defender who, due to his unorthodox methods, became a great favourite with the crowd, moved across to right full-back.

After the early season flourish the club fell away and had to be content with seventh place. Once again the striking power of the forward line left a lot to be desired. Without Mee it had little to offer, although Jack Sibbald, signed the previous season from :Stockport County, showed great improvement and was top goal-scorer, notching a hat-trick at Barrow.

The Reserves rejoined the Lancashire Combination after a twelve-year absence and celebrated by finishing second in the League with 48 points from 38 games and winning the Combination Cup.

The Lancashire Combination Cup Final against Morecambe resulted in a clear two-goal win and the team—comprised mainly of local lads under the guidance of Billy Semple—was: T. Marshall; Wilkinson, J. Marshall; Howard, Bellis, Bowness; Mandy, J. Sinclair. J. Little, Peters and Semple

Jackie Sinclair, eldest son of Jack Sinclair, the old Southport Central stalwart, and nephew of Tom and Harry, was destined for great things, but tragically died
early the following season, aged only 19. Centre-half George Bettis later won a regular place in the senior side, and was transferred to Wrexham in 1926 for £150. Ultimately he assisted Burnley for several seasons with much distinction.

One further occurrence is worthy of note. In June. 1923, the club acquired a junior clerk.
The Registered Office was then in London Street, and it was there that he learned his trade under the tutelage of the Secretary. Edwin Clayton. His name was Gordon Hunt.

Season Summary reproduced with Permission from:
The Sandgrounder (Southport FC Matchday Programme) Article Series. Southport through the seasons. The League History of Southport FC, Compiled by Michael p. Braham and Geoffrey S. Wilde

Third Division North
				Home					Away
Ptn		Third Division North	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	W	D	L	F	A	G Ave	Pts	FA Cup
1	D 2	Wolverhampton Wanderers	42	18	3	0	51	10	6	12	3	25	17	2.81	63	Rd 3
2	10	Rochdale	42	17	4	0	40	8	8	8	5	20	18	2.31	62	Qf Rd
3	1	Chesterfield	42	16	4	1	54	15	6	6	9	16	24	1.79	54	Qf Rd
4	D 2	Rotherham County	42	16	3	2	46	13	7	3	11	24	30	1.63	52	Qf Rd
5	-3	Bradford	42	17	3	1	50	12	4	7	10	19	31	1.60	52	Rd 1
6	3	Darlington	42	16	5	0	51	19	4	3	14	19	34	1.32	48	Rd 1
7	10	Southport	42	13	7	1	30	10	3	7	11	14	32	1.05	46	Qf Rd
8	11	Ashington	42	14	4	3	41	21	4	4	13	18	40	0.97	44	Rd 1
9	NL	Doncaster Rovers	42	13	4	4	41	17	2	8	11	18	36	1.11	42	Qf Rd
10	-5	Wigan Borough	42	12	5	4	39	15	2	9	10	16	38	1.04	42	Qf Rd
11	3	Grimsby Town	42	11	9	1	30	7	3	4	14	19	40	1.04	41	Rd 1
12	4	Tranmere Rovers	42	11	5	5	32	21	2	10	9	19	39	0.85	41	Qf Rd
13	-5	Accrington Stanley	42	12	5	4	35	21	4	3	14	13	40	0.79	40	Rd 1
14	-7	Halifax Town	42	11	4	6	26	17	4	6	11	16	42	0.71	40	Rd 2
15	5	Durham City	42	12	5	4	40	23	3	4	14	19	37	0.98	39	Qf Rd
16	-6	Wrexham	42	8	11	2	24	12	2	7	12	13	32	0.84	38	Qf Rd
17	-14	Walsall	42	10	5	6	31	20	4	3	14	13	39	0.75	36	Qf Rd
18	NL	New Brighton	42	9	9	3	28	10	2	4	15	12	43	0.75	35	Qf Rd
19	-6	Lincoln City	42	8	8	5	29	22	2	4	15	19	37	0.81	32	Qf Rd
20	-14	Crewe Alexandra	42	6	7	8	20	24	1	6	14	12	34	0.55	27	Qf Rd
21	-6	Hartlepools United	42	5	7	9	22	24	2	4	15	11	46	0.47	25	Qf Rd
22	-4	Barrow	42	7	7	7	25	24	1	2	18	10	56	0.44	25	Qf Rd
Notes
Hartlepools United and Barrow re-elected to league unopposed.

1923-1924

  1. FLEETWOOD                       38  29   4   5 100  40  62
  2. SOUTHPORT RESERVES              38  21   6  11  71  59  48
  3. DARWEN                          38  19   8  11  84  63  46
  4. HORWICH RMI                     38  20   4  14  72  49  44
  5. ROSSENDALE UNITED               38  18   8  12  69  56  44
  6. BACUP BOROUGH                   38  19   4  15  84  70  42
  7. ECCLES UNITED                   38  19   4  15  78  72  42
  8. LANCASTER TOWN                  38  17   8  13  61  67  42
  9. WIGAN BOROUGH RESERVES          38  16   9  13  76  54  41
 10. CHORLEY                         38  17   7  14  77  66  41
 11. MANCHESTER NORTH END            38  17   7  14  71  63  41
 12. ACCRINGTON STANLEY RESERVES     38  17   6  15  72  67  40
 13. ATHERTON                        38  17   5  16  56  44  39
 14. NELSON RESERVES                 38  14   7  17  65  65  35
 15. MORECAMBE                       38  15   5  18  60  63  35
 16. LEYLAND                         38  10   9  19  55  75  29
 17. GREAT HARWOOD                   38   9   6  23  55 102  24
 18. DICK KERR’S                     38   8   7  23  48  89  23
 19. ROCHDALE RESERVES               38   9   3  26  69  94  21
 20. SKELMERSDALE UNITED             38   7   7  24  52 117  21