Roger Darvell, a tall and commanding centre-half, played a club-record 255 games in the position during Southport’s early Fourth Division years. Arriving at Haig Avenue after only 3 Football League appearances with Gillingham, he missed just six League matches in his first three seasons. However, his career was interrupted by a fractured tibia and fibula at Bradford City on 11 October 1961 during his 150th League game.Darvell returned to action the following September and, despite the arrival of Joe Wallace, retained his position as the number 5, with Wallace moving to right-half. Regarded as one of the best pivots in the lower divisions, Darvell was known for his loyalty to the club, though he was controversially denied a benefit after five seasons – a post-war first for Southport players.His sole League goal was a scrappy effort off his chest against Torquay, and a year later, he scored for the Reserves against Lytham. After seven seasons with Southport, he was surprisingly released and spent six years with Banbury United, where he became assistant manager. Darvell attended Southport’s last Football League match at Watford. He later worked for Rover’s security and emergency services at Gaydon.

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