Southport Central F.C.
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| Full name | Southport Football Club |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Sandgrounders, the Port, the Yellows |
| Founded | 1881 (as Southport Central) |
| Ground | Haig Avenue, Southport |
| Capacity | 6,008(1,660 seated) |
| Chairman | James Treadwell |
| Manager | Alan Lewer |
| League | National League North |
| 2016–17 | National League, 23rd of 24 (relegated) |
Coordinates: 53°38′18.62″N 2°58′45.06″W / 53.6385056°N 2.9791833°W
Southport Football Club is a semi-professional association football club based in Blowick, Southport, Merseyside. They are currently members of the National League North. From 1921 to 1978 they were a Football League club. They play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008. They are known by their nickname "the Sandgrounders".
It was on Thursday 12 November 1881 that Southport played its first association football match.
Although association football was played in the town's private schools in the late 1870s the original Southport Football Club began as a rugby team.
Southport Football Club arranged rugby fixtures for 1881–82. After some heavy defeats, the last recorded being on 15 October 1881, the club switched to association football. On 12 November, six of that team lined up when Southport played Bootle 'second' in their first match under Association Rules.
Ralph Rylance did more than anyone to establish association football in the town. He came to Southport from Blackburn having played for the Blackburn Law team, a noted eleven in those days. Performances soon improved with him playing, and Tranmere Rovers were beaten twice whilst the Tradesman of Southport and Liverpool Excelsior were both overcome 7–0.
On 7 October 1882, Southport entertained Liverpool Ramblers in their first ever F.A., or English Challenge Cup tie as the competition was called for years. The game was watched by 300 spectators and resulted in a 1–1 draw.
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