Bryan Griffiths

He played centre-forward for Bootle Schoolboys before being converted to full-back at 14 and earning a trial for England Schoolboys. A part-time professional throughout his football life — he was a draughtsman by profession — he had a disastrous start to his League career with Everton when, as a 19-year-old, he made his home début in a 6—1 débâcle v. Arsenal. ‘Yogi’ — a Haig Avenue nickname derived from his close-cropped hair — was a stylish full-back during the Lem Newcomb era, whose career was cut short by a twisted knee sustained at Rochdale on 9 March 1963 which broke a run of 97 consecutive appearances. When eventually operated on, it turned out to be a torn cartilage. Although he re-signed for 1963—64 and tried a number of comebacks with the Reserves, he broke down each time and had to retire from the game. He became a most astute manager in non-League circles, notably with Formby where he spent 15 years; he also had a spell as manager of Southport in the Northern Premier League, taking them through five rounds of the F.A. Trophy.

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

Bryan Griffiths came next appointed following the dismissal of Bob Murphy. He was a manager the fans had long wanted to see in charge at Haig Ave. A full-back whose knowledge of the local non league football scene was at the time second to none. Things didn’t start too well! There was a big clear out with a lot of below standard players being brought in but some great results followed in the next two seasons under Griffiths, the highlights being an appearance in the third round of the FA Trophy, Southport’s appearance against league opposition in the FA Cup at Scunthorpe and a sensational 4-2 win in the FA Trophy at Telford, then one of the country’s leading non league sides.
1987/88 started well hopes were high that this could be the club’s season to return from the wilderness but suddenly it all went horribly wrong. A run of bad results ended on 6th November with Griffiths resigning for “decisions taken off the field during a period of enforced absence through work commitments”

• Players

Father and Son Connections

17th December 2018 Guest Author