Bill Forsyth

A strong-kicking full-back who was determined in the tackle, he was Jackie Bestall’s first signing at Ewood Park; but this tall and rangy defender did not progress beyond the Central League team. He was put on the transfer list at £500 but, after an appeal to the Players’ Union, the fee was knocked off and he came to Haig Avenue on a free transfer. One of the tallest full-backs in the club’s history, he also deputised at centre-half, wing-half, and centre-forward (where he notched a reserve hat-trick). In the Reserves he turned out in goal and would have played there in the League game at Accrington Stanley on 27 December 1955 as Ray Minshull was ill on the coach, but the game was postponed. He also scored many goals in the Reserves with his powerful penalty and free-kicks — one goal for the Reserves was from the halfway line and his long drive was completely misjudged by Bolton’s goalkeeper, Arthur Barnard. His career ended with a knee injury in January 1958. He lives in Wigan.

Profile reproduced with Permission from:
The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F. C., by Michael Braham and Geoff Wilde (Palatine Books, 1995). ISBN 978-1-874181-14-9