Remembering Southport FC’s Fallen Heroes This Remembrance Day

As we look towards the annual acts of Remembrance, we take time to honour the brave men who served and sacrificed their lives during times of conflict, including those connected to Southport FC. Their stories are woven into both our local history and the legacy of our football community. Among these heroes, William Rigby stands as a poignant figure, not only for his service but also as the only Southport player who died in wartime that is laid to rest within the town’s own Duke Street Cemetery.

William Rigby, a native of Southport, was a Lance Sergeant with the 1/8th Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers. Before joining the military, he worked at Messrs Heyes Bros on Leicester Street and was a dedicated footballer, making 64 heritage qualifying appearances for Southport between 1913 and 1915, alongside additional wartime matches, taking his total well over the 100 appearances mark. His commitment on the pitch mirrored his dedication to his country when he enlisted. Rigby sustained severe injuries during his service and ultimately passed away on October 27, 1918, at a military hospital in Sunderland. He was the last Southport player to lose his life in World War I, just two weeks before the end of the conflict.

Rigby’s funeral was held with full military honors, with a service led by Rev. W.E. Brook of All Souls, Blowick, and a firing party from the Southport Volunteer League. His resting place at Duke Street Cemetery provides a physical place of reflection and remembrance where we can honor not just his memory but also the sacrifices made by all fallen heroes associated with the club.