1926/27 Season Summary

This season will best be remembered as the year Southport first assumed their role of giant -killers.

After the debacle of the previous season the Directors appointed Charles Parker as Secretary-Manager-he had just completed eight years as Secretary of Preston North End—and wisely re-engaged Frank Jefferis as trainer-coach. The side was built around two Welsh Internationals—Harry Beadles, a free-scoring inside-forward from Sheffield Wednesday, and Jack Newnes, a centre-half from Nelson.

Despite a poor start to the season during which time “Topping” Sinclair was absent owing to a dispute with the club over terms, the team eventually settled down; Wrexham were defeated 6-0 with Sapsford scoring four and Beadles two, New Brighton were thrashed 7-2 with both Marshall and Beadles hitting hat-tricks, and Walsall were beaten 6-1, Beadles again scoring three goals. In all, 80 League goals were scored, and Southport finished in a comfortable 12th position; but it was in the F.A. Cup Competition that the club really hit the headlines, progressing further than ever before and netting E2.000 in the process.

They were lucky to draw with Tranmere Rovers at Haig Avenue in the first round—George Sapsford scoring a late equaliser. However, the ‘Port played splendidly in the replay at Prenton Park. Beadles opened the scoring with a beautiful header and George Jones seated the victory with a brilliant goal.

Crook Town were easily accounted for in the second round at Haig Avenue, and the third round draw paired Southport with First Division Blackburn Rovers. Southport had an old score to settle with the Rovers, as they had knocked out the ‘Port five years earlier. Blackburn. a side with a great Cup tradition fell at their first hurdle; first young Tommy Wnite-schoolboy star of the early ‘twenties—surprised the experienced Sewell, Blackburn’s goalkeeper, to put Southport ahead and then, after the interval, Beadles scored the second.

Unfortunately, an injury prevented Beadles from taking part in the fourth round tie, when Southport finally met their match, losing 3-1 at Anfield in front of 51,6,10 (receipts £3,200) which still remains the highest crowd before which they have played. Southport appeared overawed by the occasion, and were well beaten on the day: had Liverpool’s shooting not been so wayward the score would have been higher still. The team which faced Liverpool was: Halsall; Allan, Glover: Sinclair, Newnes, Bimson; Jones (G. W.). Marshall, Bradley, Sapsford and White.

Shortly afterwards Tom White was transferred to Everton, where he enjoyed great success. helping Everton to two championships and gaining a cup-winner’s medal and an England Cap against Northern Ireland. The substantial fee received for him and the good Cup run resulted in Southport recording a profit of over £1.300 on the year.

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	Stoke City	42	17	3	1	57	11	10	6	5	35	29	2.30	63	Rd 1
2	1	Rochdale	42	18	2	1	72	22	8	4	9	33	43	1.62	58	Rd 1
3	-1	Bradford	42	18	3	0	74	21	6	4	11	27	38	1.71	55	Rd 1
4	1	Halifax Town	42	13	6	2	46	23	8	5	8	24	30	1.32	53	Rd 1
5	3	Nelson	42	16	2	3	64	20	6	5	10	40	55	1.39	51	Rd 2
6	D 2	Stockport County	42	13	4	4	60	31	9	3	9	33	38	1.35	49	Rd 1
7	-3	Chesterfield	42	15	4	2	65	24	6	1	14	27	44	1.35	47	Rd 3
8	2	Doncaster Rovers	42	13	4	4	58	27	5	7	9	23	38	1.25	47	Rd 2
9	-2	Tranmere Rovers	42	13	5	3	54	22	6	3	12	31	45	1.27	46	Rd 1
10	2	New Brighton	42	14	2	5	49	21	4	8	9	30	46	1.18	46	Rd 1
11	4	Lincoln City	42	9	5	7	50	33	6	7	8	40	45	1.15	42	Rd 3
12	8	Southport	42	11	5	5	54	32	4	4	13	26	53	0.94	39	Rd 4
13	6	Wrexham	42	10	5	6	41	26	4	5	12	24	47	0.89	38	Rd 2
14	7	Walsall	42	10	4	7	35	22	4	6	11	33	59	0.84	38	Rd 3
15	-4	Crewe Alexandra	42	11	5	5	46	28	3	4	14	25	53	0.88	37	Rd 3
16	-7	Ashington	42	9	8	4	42	30	3	4	14	18	60	0.67	36	Rd 3
17	-11	Hartlepools United	42	11	4	6	43	26	3	2	16	23	55	0.81	34	Rd 1
18	-1	Wigan Borough	42	10	6	5	44	28	1	4	16	22	55	0.80	32	Rd 2
19	-5	Rotherham United	42	8	6	7	41	35	2	6	13	29	57	0.76	32	Rd 1
20	-7	Durham City	42	9	4	8	35	35	3	2	16	23	70	0.55	30	DNE
21	-3	Accrington Stanley	42	9	3	9	45	38	1	4	16	17	60	0.63	27	Rd 4
22	0	Barrow	42	5	6	10	22	40	2	2	17	12	77	0.29	22	Rd 1
Notes
Accrington Stanley and Barrow re-elected to league.
Walsall transferred to Third Division South for following season.
Failed election to the Third Division North
Blyth Spartans, Carlisle United, Mansfield Town and York City

1926-1927 Lancashire Combination
  1. ROSSENDALE UNITED               38  27   6   5 129  65  60
  2. CHORLEY                         38  25   9   4 111  45  59
  3. MORECAMBE                       38  23   4  11 105  58  50
  4. BARNOLDSWICK TOWN               38  21   6  11 125  79  48
  5. DICK KERR’S                     38  21   6  11 105  68  48
  6. ACCRINGTON STANLEY RESERVES     38  19   9  10 109  75  47
  7. LANCASTER TOWN                  38  21   5  12  96  76  47
  8. SOUTHPORT RESERVES              38  20   3  15  93  82  43
  9. CLITHEROE                       38  17   8  13 100  91  42
 10. HORWICH RMI                     38  18   5  15 106  76  41
 11. DARWEN                          38  15   6  17  89  98  36
 12. FLEETWOOD                       38  14   5  19  63  82  33
 13. BACUP BOROUGH                   38  12   8  18  82  92  32
 14. NELSON RESERVES                 38  12   7  19  72  90  31
 15. PRESTON NORTH END ‘A’           38  10   8  20  77  93  28
 16. ATHERTON                        38  12   4  22  76 122  28
 17. HINDLEY GREEN ATHLETIC          38  10   5  23  93 146  25
 18. WIGAN BOROUGH RESERVES          38   9   6  23  73 120  24
 19. COLNE TOWN                      38  11   1  26  55 127  23
 20. GREAT HARWOOD                   38   5   5  28  55 129  15