Edwin Clayton Grave

A native of Ormskirk, he came to live in Southport in 1893 and immediately showed great interest in a number of sporting activities. He was assistant treasurer of the miniature rifle range and chief organiser of Derby Road Cricket Club, which he captained for five seasons. He helped organise the Southport Athletic Club and assisted in the formation of the Blundell Golf Club; but it was for his work in connection with Southport Football Club that he was best known.

He was appointed Honorary Secretary of Southport Central in April 1908 in succession to Tom Shipley; it was a position he held until 1926.

Together with Alderman Cropper of Chesterfield he was a pioneer of Division III (North) of the Football League and became its first Secretary, holding office until 1935. His driving enthusiasm in its formation ensured that Southport became founder members.

A member of the Lancashire F.A., he enjoyed a national reputation as an Association Football legislator; he was also elected on to the Lancashire Combination executive.

Following the resignation of Jimmy Commins in December 1930 he returned briefly as Southport’s Honorary Secretary until Bert Pelham’s appointment. He served as a director of Southport Football Club from 1926 to 1935 and thereafter was a Life Member of the club. He took an active part in civic affairs and was on Southport Town Council for almost a quarter of a century.

He was the first Chairman of the Flower Show Committee and was appointed a J.P. in August 1927. Edwin Clayton died on January 7th, 1939 aged 70.

Profile reproduced with Permission from:The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F. C., by Michael Braham and Geoff Wilde (Palatine Books, 1995). ISBN 978-1-874181-14-9