Call for Contributors: Help Celebrate Southport’s Cricket, Rugby and Association Football History

Are you passionate about sports history? Do you have a knack for research or access to family stories, photographs, or memorabilia connected to Southport’s rich sporting heritage? We are seeking contributors to help explore, preserve and celebrate the history of cricket, rugby and association football in the town.

Thanks to research undertaken for “The Town’s Game”, the origins of association football and rugby in Southport are now well-documented, offering a detailed account of the formative years of the two sports up to 1889. However, with the exception of Southport Central, which became today’s Southport Football Club, the wealth of historical information for other local clubs from 1889 to the present day is far less comprehensive.  There was still a thriving amateur association game beyond the advent of professionalism which is largely unrecorded. Similarly, whilst rugby and cricket have been cornerstones of Southport’s sporting life, much of its history remains undocumented.

Whether you are an avid historian, a sports enthusiast, or someone with family ties to Southport’s sporting past, your contributions could help fill in these gaps.

We are particularly interested in:

• Old match programmes, team photographs, and memorabilia.
• Personal stories or anecdotes related to in particular rugby or cricket in Southport, but also any of the amateur association football clubs.
• Insights into any clubs, teams, or players that shaped the games locally.
• Information about grounds and locations where matches were played, especially photographs.

Your contributions will help to ensure Southport’s sporting heritage is preserved for future generations. All contributors will be fully credited for their input but we must stress that contributions would be entirely voluntary.

If you are interested in getting involved, please reach out via email or via Facebook/Bluesky messaging.