On This Day – 4th September

On this day in 1889 Preston North End were the visitors to officially open Central’s new ground at Scarisbrick New Road. The ground had previously been occupied by the Southport Olympic Rugby Club and the goal posts were directly opposite the Infirmary Clock. The Southport Visiter said that the field was “sufficiently extensive, thoroughly well laid out, capitally fenced and included two excellent pavillions and a covered grandstand.” lt was to be Southport Central’s home for the next sixteen years.

SOUTHPORT CENTRAL 1 – 4 PRESTON NORTH END 

Stadium: Scarisbrick New Road
Competition: Friendly
Date: 04/09/1889
Attendance: 3000

Southport Line-Up: Jimmy Gee, George Dobson, William Hodgkinson, Frank Horton, Herbie Fecitt, Charlie McLaren, Billy Wilson, Taylor, Thomas Henry Chew, W Barton, Thomas Lea,  
Goals: Thomas Lea

On this day in 1915, Central played their first war-time football v Blackpool.

SOUTHPORT CENTRAL 2 – 0 BLACKPOOL 

Competition: War-Time: League
Date: 04/09/1915
Attendance: Under 4000

Southport Line-Up: Frank Drabble, Tom Dorward, Walter Holbem, Eddie Holdsworth, Jimmy Fay, Lol Abram, William Rigby, Billy Caulfield, Arthur Stringfellow, Billy Garner, Billy Semple,  
Goals: William Rigby, Arthur Stringfellow

Gate under 4000, with 1115 soldiers at half price and 150 wounded soldiers. Gate receipts £65.

Goalscorers Arthur Stringfellow and William Rigby would both become casualties of the war.

Stringfellow is believed to have died on 25/03/1918 and was last seen walking to a first aid station after having been wounded in the arm. The Private in the Lancashire Fusiliers 1st/5th Battalion is buried in the Arras memorial.

A resident of 18 Devonshire Road, and the only war time casualty to be buried in Southport, William Rigby was a Lance Sergeant in the Lancashire Fusiliers 1/8th Batallion. William died at a military hospital in Sunderland from wounds received in active service and was buried with full military honours in Duke Street Cemetery. A firing party was supplied by the Southport Volunteer League, and the “Last Post” was sounded at the graveside.