1924/25 Season Summary

The most successful season experienced by the club since gaining entry to the Third Division saw Southport finish in fourth position with 51 points and make
their first sustained challenge for Second Division football.

The strength of the team lay in its half-back line of Sinclair, Little and Bimson and in fact only champions Darlington conceded fewer goals. The total of 37 against is Southport’s lowest ever and the seven goals conceded in the 21 home games is unlikely to be bettered.

The attack was more effective than before with new signings Sambrook from Stockport County and Barber from Manchester United adding much-needed scoring power and accounting for 32 out of the side’s 50 League goals.

Southport were never lower than fourth in the League table throughout the season, and for the greater part of the time they were in second place. The two Aitkens—or more correctly Fergie Aitkin and Jack Aitken—both ever-present, were lively raiders on the flanks, with Jefferis once again the mentor of the attack. The regular League team was: Halsall; Allen. Mulligan; Sinclair, Little, W. Bimson; Aitkin, Jefferis, Sambrook, Barber, Aitken.

A notable victory was chalked up on January 3rd when Barrow were defeated 5-0, all the goals coming in the first half. Barber hit a hat-trick before Sambrook added the other two.

The only black spot of the season was the level of support which was no better than in 1923-24. A loss of £424 3s. 11d. was reported at the Annual General Meeting, which was not, however, as bad as the previous season’s Ioss of £974 7s. 4d. The deficit would have been higher but for the transfers of “Todger” Tootle to Derby County and James Forbes to Bolton Wanderers. Moreover, a three-day bazaar at the Cambridge Hall raised £1,188 and this enabled the club to reduce their overdraft. Billy Merson. the famous entertainer, was the opener on the third day.

On April 29th three local-born players—Billy Halsall, Billy Little and Tom Sinclair-were granted a benefit match against Manchester City, who were defeated 2-1. Halsall, incidentally. missed three mid-season games owing to a back injury and influenza and thereby ended a run of 103 consecutive League appearances.

At the end of the season the Directors of the club, which had previously been run by honorary workers, appointed Tom E. Maley as team manager. Maley. an experienced campaigner, had previously managed Bradford P.A. for eleven years. At boardroom level, Mr. F. W. Hyde. after four years’ service, tendered his resignation, and Mr. J. H. Alexander was co-opted in his place.

During the close season the paddock in front of the stand was terraced and the drainage defect in the pitch was remedied. In addition the top of the Haig Avenue stand was re-roofed with galvanised steel.

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	5	Darlington	42	16	4	1	50	14	8	6	7	28	19	2.36	58	Rd 1
2	D 2	Nelson	42	18	2	1	58	14	5	5	11	21	36	1.58	53	Qf Rd
3	15	New Brighton	42	17	3	1	56	16	6	4	11	19	34	1.50	53	Qf Rd
4	3	Southport	42	17	2	2	41	7	5	5	11	18	30	1.59	51	Qf Rd
5	0	Bradford	42	15	5	1	59	13	4	7	10	25	29	2.00	50	Rd 2
6	-4	Rochdale	42	17	2	2	53	16	4	5	12	22	37	1.42	49	Qf Rd
7	-4	Chesterfield	42	14	3	4	42	15	3	8	10	18	29	1.36	45	Qf Rd
8	11	Lincoln City	42	13	4	4	39	19	5	4	12	14	39	0.91	44	Qf Rd
9	5	Halifax Town	42	11	5	5	36	22	5	6	10	20	30	1.08	43	Qf Rd
10	-2	Ashington	42	13	4	4	41	24	3	6	12	27	52	0.89	42	Qf Rd
11	-1	Wigan Borough	42	10	7	4	39	16	5	4	12	23	49	0.95	41	Qf Rd
12	-1	Grimsby Town	42	10	6	5	38	21	5	3	13	22	39	1.00	39	Qf Rd
13	2	Durham City	42	11	6	4	38	17	2	7	12	12	51	0.74	39	Qf Rd
14	8	Barrow	42	14	4	3	39	22	2	3	16	12	52	0.69	39	Rd 1
15	5	Crewe Alexandra	42	11	7	3	35	24	2	6	13	18	54	0.68	39	Qf Rd
16	0	Wrexham	42	11	5	5	37	21	4	3	14	16	40	0.87	38	Qf Rd
17	-4	Accrington Stanley	42	12	5	4	43	23	3	3	15	17	49	0.83	38	Rd 1
18	-9	Doncaster Rovers	42	12	5	4	36	17	2	5	14	18	48	0.83	38	Rd 1
19	-2	Walsall	42	10	6	5	27	16	3	5	13	17	37	0.83	37	Qf Rd
20	1	Hartlepools United	42	9	8	4	28	21	3	3	15	17	42	0.71	35	Rd 1
21	-9	Tranmere Rovers	42	11	3	7	40	29	3	1	17	19	49	0.76	32	Qf Rd
22	-18	Rotherham County	42	6	5	10	27	31	1	2	18	15	57	0.48	21	Qf Rd
Notes
Tranmere Rovers and Rotherham County re-elected to league.
Rotherham County and Town amalgamated and became Rotherham United
Failed election to the Third Division North
Blyth Spartans and Mansfield Town.

1924-1925


  1. MORECAMBE                       36  24   6   5  88  31  55
  2. ROCHDALE RESERVES               36  24   7   6 105  38  54
  3. DARWEN                          36  17  11   8  64  35  45
  4. DICK KERR’S                     36  20   5  11  81  60  45
  5. ATHERTON                        36  19   7  10  62  40  45
  6. ROSSENDALE UNITED               36  16   9  11  76  67  41
  7. FLEETWOOD                       36  14  11  11  74  59  39
  8. SOUTHPORT RESERVES              36  15   8  13  60  46  38
  9. HORWICH RMI                     36  14   8  14  74  60  36
 10. BARNOLDSWICK TOWN               36  15   5  16  72  84  35
 11. LANCASTER TOWN                  36  13   8  15  60  54  34
 12. ECCLES UNITED                   36  13   7  16  68  90  33
 13. NELSON RESERVES                 36  12   8  16  60  77  32
 14. BACUP BOROUGH                   36  11  10  15  65  82  32
 15. ACCRINGTON STANLEY RESERVES     36  12   7  17  71  61  31
 16. CHORLEY                         36  10   8  18  49  77  28
 17. WIGAN BOROUGH RESERVES          36  12   4  20  45  82  28
 18. GREAT HARWOOD                   36   7   4  25  38 104  18
 19. LEYLAND                         36   6   3  27  40 105  15