We nearly played St Johnstone

In May 1988 Southport arranged a friendly match against St Johnstone, to be played on 30th July 1988. Agreement was even reached over sharing the gate receipts equally. Then on 26th July, just 4 days before the game, St Johnstone withdrew following ‘uncertainty over the fixture’. Did this relate to the supposed debt of £250 still owed to Hamilton Academicals following a friendly match in 1986. The amount was finally paid in 1997 by Southport FC’s Vice Presidents, thus paving the way for Southport to play future friendly matches against Scottish opposition.