That unusual breed — a Dublin-born Irish Protestant — Bob Griffith trained as a locksmith and after early spells at various clubs in The Irish Free State, came over to play for Spurs in 1931, but never got past the reserve team. Back in Ireland he represented Drumcondra before becoming one of several Irish signings made by Jimmy Commins when the latter brought him to Southport.This speedy outside-right who could run 100 yards in 10.4 seconds rarely displayed his best form at Haig Avenue due to the attitude of certain sections of the crowd but invariably excelled away. It was from his misdirected corner that Jimmy Watt scored his celebrated long-range goal! He missed only one game (through a groin strain) in 1933—34, making 40 appearances at outside-right and scoring in 4 successive games — including one at centre-forward, a position he retained for the Workington Cup-tie. Transferred to Walsall at a fee, he only managed 8 League appearances — yet made up for missing an earlier opportunity v. Belgium when he represented the Irish Free State v. Hungary on 15 December 1934. Surprisingly, he retired in 1935 and lived out his life in the Harringay area, working in ironmongery and eventually becoming a warehouse manager. Though grounded in World War II, he served the RAF checking bombs onto planes departing for raids. After retirement in 1966 he had both legs amputated but still got about in an invalid car until his death at 68.

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