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Barnet v Southport

Nationwide Conference
Tuesday 18th March 7.45pm

(Ed's note - This is the first time we have played Southport this season - I wonder if this is some kind of record for the latest that two teams have met? I did ask on Barnet's messageboard a while back, but no one seemed to know.)

It looks like another unsuccesful season for Southport. The 4-3 win at Halifax on the 8th March followed a run of 13 games without a win, the last being 2-0 away to Hereford on the 9th of November.

Mike Walsh has come in as Manager and it was looking like two wins on the trot last Saturday at home to Dagenham & Redbridge until the 63rd minute when Hill scored from a 30 yard cross that blew into the goal. Our old friend Tarkan Mustafa finshed off Southport's hopes.

Barnet went up to Morecambe and shared the points in a 1-1 draw, with only five shots in the match and the Bees only managing one. Still, most people predicted a defeat (including myself) so not a bad day's work with seven regulars out through injury.

If we can get some consistency going, and more players fit, the final position might not look too bad, so a win is required on Tuesday night.

Get down to Underhill, get behind the Lads and bang that drum James!

Phil's Prediction
Barnet 2 Southport 1

Sothport's Last Six League Games

All League games

Last-six tables from confguide.com

D D L L W L

Home

D L D D L L

Away

L L L D L W

Current Form

Results Grid

Below are the result grids for Barnet and Southport so far this season. These show how many times various scores have been attained by each club.

Key

Barnet (home)

Southport (away)

League Snippet

Below is Barnet and Southport's league details based on their Home and Away performances.

If They're Picked...

Below is a list of players who - IF THEY'RE PICKED - will be starting an anniversary game. In other words, it will be their nth start where n is divisible by 10. This takes no account of whether they are likely to be picked due to injury, suspension and suchlike.

History

Courtesy of portfans.co.uk

Southport Football Club originated from a failed rugby club which, after several heavy defeats, changed codes in 1881 and by 1888 had merged with Southport Wanderers to become Southport Central. Playing at a ground on Scarisbrick New Road they joined the Lancashire League and in 1894-95 reached the First Round proper of the F.A. Cup for the first time, losing 0-3 to Everton before a then record gate of 5,000.

The club moved to their present ground in Ash Lane, later renamed Haig Avenue, in 1905. Having become founder members of the Central League in 1911, Southport Central was taken over in 1918 by the Vulcan Motor Company and played for one year only as Southport Vulcan. Following reformation they became Southport F.C. and, as such, were heavily involved in the establishment of Football League Division III (North) in 1921.

For much of their Football League career (from 1921 to 1978) Southport laboured in the nether regions of Division III (North) or Division IV. Hampered by the proximity of several big clubs, Southport always suffered from poor attendance's. Acute financial problems almost brought about closure in 1936 but two opportune transfers ensured Southport's survival; a similar situation arose in 1981 when only a complete reconstruction saved the club.

On a more positive note the 1938-39 and 1955-56 seasons saw the club challenging for promotion to Division II but a lack of determination as much off the field as on let them down towards the finish each time. Many would say the "Golden Age" of Southport F.C. began with the arrival of Billy Bingham as trainer-coach back in 1965.

Appointed Manager, he took the club to a Fifth Round F.A.Cup tie at Hull City in 1966 and then secured promotion to Football League Division III in 1966-67. Relegation in 1970 was only temporary; under the Managership of ex-England International Jimmy Meadows, whose own League career had begun at Southport in 1949, the Sandgrounders won the 1972-73 Fourth Division Championship with 62 points.

That Hull tie was not, however, the pinnacle of the club's achievements in the F.A.Cup; their great Cup tradition peaked in 1931 when Southport became the first Division III (North) club to reach Round Six of the competition, losing to Everton. The following season Newcastle United drew 20,010 (still the ground record) to Haig Avenue in Round 4 and only after two replays with Southport did the Geordies go on to win the Cup at Wembley.

Many thought that the loss of Football League status - ironically by a single vote in 1978 - would herald the end of the club altogether. Yet here they are, over twenty years later, not just surviving but with finances healthier than in many League seasons. The Haig Avenue ground has itself undergone a complete transformation during this time to bring it up to Conference standard, particularly following the demolition of the original covered terracing under new safety regulations in 1987.

Chairman Charles Clapham masterminded the rebuilding project and thus helped secure the promotion the club so dearly sought. In 1981 Southport F.C. celebrated its Centenary with a reunion of 125 former Football League players, an event successfully repeated in 1991 when invitations were also extended to players from the N.P.L. era. It is hoped to stage a similar celebration for the 120th anniversary in 2001.

The club’s greatest day arrived in May 1998 when, under the managership of Paul Futcher, the Sandgrounders walked down that famous Wembley tunnel and into the bright sunshine of Wembley Stadium for the Umbro F.A. Trophy Final. Despite outplaying Cheltenham Town for almost the whole ninety minutes – a late slip allowed a killer goal and over ten thousand gold and black clad fans who had made the trip were left disappointed but proud.

The arrival of new manager Mark Wright in December 1999 brought a new optimism at Haig Avenue after two and a half seasons of poor League form. With a side lacking confidence wallowing next to bottom in the table, Mark took on the challenge despite it being his first management position, and by the end of the season the Sandgrounders had risen meteorically to ninth in the final Conference table.

Mike Walsh is now in charge after taking over from Phil Wilson during the season.

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