Southport Sports Club Timeline

What started out as an idea to add a bit more information to this website, very quickly became a detailed study into the story of football, and rugby, in this town. It became clear that you simply could not cover the early years of ‘association’ football in Southport without first covering ‘the rugby years’ in as much detail, nor could you cover either without also touching upon Cricket such is the uniqueness of the pattern sport has woven into this town.

The below timeline represents some of the key points in time relating to the Town’s main Cricket, Rugby and Football clubs.

1859

Southport Cricket Club formed

Playing at York Road, Birkdale

1863

Southport Alexandra Cricket Club Formed

Playing at Manchester Road

1865

Original Southport Cricket Club disbands

York Road ground lost to developers

1866

Southport Cricket Club Restarts

Playing at Manchester Road, next door to Alexandra Cricket Club

1872

Southport Football Club formed

Rugby club formed by the members of Southport Rowing Club and Southport Alexandra Cricket Club, under the guidance of George Coombe, playing at Manchester Road, next to Alexandra Cricket Club.
Club Colours Black, Red and Amber

1874

Birkdale Cricket Club formed

Playing at Trafalgar Road, Birkdale

1875

Southport Cricket Club loses ground

Manchester Road sold to developers for housing. Moves to Scarisbrick New Road

1876

Southport Cricket Club disbands

Club lasts only one year at Scarisbrick New Road, near to the Cemetery

1876

Church of England Temperance Society Cricket Club forms Football section (Rugby)

Also playing at Scarisbrick New Road near the Cemetery

1877

CofE Temperance Society Football section renamed Southport Olympic

1879

Original Southport Football Club disbands.

After one of the harshest winters on record the original football club disbands.

Southport Wasps take the opportunity to rename as Southport Football Club and move to Manchester Road.

Club colours changed to Red, White and Blue (2)

1880

Southport Football Club (2) disbands.

A number of players switch to Southport Olympic and Southport Hornets.

1881

Southport Football Club restarts

Another new club is formed called Southport Football Club, playing Rugby.
Switches to Association football after 3 games.

Plays at ground on Corner of Scarisbrick New Road and Ash Street. Club
Colours, Red.

1884

Southport Wanderers association football club formed

Formed by members of the Southport Olympic Rugby Club.

Colours: Red and Black

1885

Southport Cricket Club Reforms

Playing on the Recreation grounds of Scarisbrick New Road, where Flakland Road and Rutland Road lie today

1886

First association club disbands.

Shortly after winning the Southport Charity Cup for the second time the club disbands.

A number of players and supporters switch to Wanderers who then rename as Southport Football Club.

Colours: Red and White Stripes

1888

Southport Cricket Club disbands

1888

Southport Central Association Football Club Formed

The first Professional club formed in Southport, as Southport Central, playing at the Sports Ground on Sussex Road.
Southport Football Club Disbands.
Colours: White Jersey, Blue Shorts.

1889