On This Day: December 17th

After a third successive re-election application at the end of the 1959/60 season, Southport needed a marked improvement for the 1960/61 season. Under Len Newcomb, Southport won their first two games, their best start in 29 years! With a settled side, they were building a reputation for consistently good football but when in October, Peter Harrison netted 30 seconds from time to secure a thrilling 4-3 win at league-leaders Peterborough United, few would have predicted it would be the last away win for over 2 months.

On this day in 1960 Southport travelled to Hartlepool looking to put their poor fortune behind them. In the intervening weeks plenty of chances had fallen to the forwards but there was a frustrating lack of return. That was all to change, and the 5-1 win over the monkey-hangers became their biggest football league away win to date.

HARTLEPOOL 1 – 5 SOUTHPORT

Competition: League
Date: 17/12/1960
Attendance: 3735

Southport Line-Up: Bert Harris, Alan Bentham, Roger Darvell, Bill Rutherford, Jimmy Blain, Reg Blore, Jack Hannaway, Eric Jones, Eddie Moss, Peter Harrison, Bryan Griffiths,
Goals: Jimmy Blain, Jimmy Blain, Eddie Moss, Peter Harrison, Bill Rutherford,