Brave Central! You came out of the ordeal exceedingly well on Saturday last, and deserve to be congratulated. We have pleasure in doing so. Irwell Springs had a very good reputation. You had just the opposite in East Lancashire, at all events, but by the brilliant game you played in the first round of the English Cup, you have made for yourselves a name, and we have great confidence that you will keep it. The ground was not suitable to your tastes – we mean to your feet – but, notwithstanding this fact, you gained a victory by five goals to four. Irwell Springs were astonished. We were astonished. The spectators were astonished, and we believe you were astonished yourselves. At the conclusion of the match all the Southportonions were jubilant, and we are given to understand that the energetic secretary was so delighted that he ran a hundred yards in even time. At all events, we know for a fact that he did say the victory was in a great measure due to the writer of these notes for the very encouraging way in which he had spoken of the club. We sincerely hope that you will be as successful in the second round. This afternoon the Central meet Haydock St. James’s in the first round of the Lancashire Cup. The match will be played on the Sports’ Ground, Sussex Road, and after the glorious victory of Saturday last no doubt the spectators will assemble in thousands to see the following team acquit themselves:- Tyldesley, Shaw, Walsh, Horton, Ackroyd, Lea-Jones, Dodd, Sourbutts, Taylor, Graham, and Duncan. The Central should have played Whiston in the first round of the Liverpool and District Cup, but as they preferred to contest the English Cup, the engagement had to be taken up by the Swifts, and we are sorry to say that they did not come out of it successfully. The visiters commenced operations with the wind at their backs, and during the first half of the match they scored a goal. During the second half Whiston added two more goals, and as the Swifts could only get the ball past the visiter’s goalkeeper on one occasion they had to retire defeated by three goals to one. This afternoon the swifts meet Birkdale, at Birkdale. The following will be the teams: – Swifts: Guest, Baxter, Walmsley, Evans, Pasquill, Blundell, F. and W.Rimmer, Forshaw, Hibbs, Blackledge, and Brighouse. Birkdale: Hales, E.White, Marchant, Knight, O’Brien, Cross, Crankshaw, Lamb, W.White, Thorniley, and Mayall.

(Southport Visiter, 13^th October 1888)

A HARD GAME AT BACUP

Suitable football weather prevailed at Broadclough when the Alpine Club opposed Southport Central in the encounter for the English Cup. Dyson is still absent as a matter of course, his recovery from the injured leg at the Manchester Infirmary being very slow. “Boy” Sykes makes a rather good substitute, whilst Bob Dyson improves with practice. Though the loss of Cooke (now of Rossendale) is greatly felt by the Springs Club, yet Hird does his duty in a commendable manner. Southport were well represented, and the game throughout was of an exciting character. At the end of ninety minutes the game was – Southport, three goals; Springs, three goals. Extra time was played, when Southport added two more goals and Springs one. The Southport men were in splendid form, as, in fact, both sides were. Hird, Billy Haworth, and Little Thompson for the Springs played an excellent game. The visitors’ goalkeeper had some hard shots to fist out. There was a large attendance, no small number hailing from Southport.

(Athletic News, 9^th October 1888)

Southport central vs Irwell Springs
English Cup Tie
Victory of the Central

On Saturday last, the premier local organisation travelled to Bacup to meet Irwell Springs in the first round of the English Cup. A large number of local football enthusiasts accompanied the team and having heard of the great reputation of Irwell Springs they scarcely anticipated that the Central would be on the winning side. Most, however, were confident that the “Sandgrounders” would render a good account of themselves, and this they did with good effect, as, after a most stubborn battle, which lasted half-an-hour more than they had bargained for, they came out of the encounter a goal to the good. On arriving at the ground, the spectators, as well as the players, were greatly disappointed to find the turf in a wretched condition, and they considered that such a state of affairs would to a great extent militate against their chance. Even have the ground been in good order, the odds were against the Central, as the field was greatly on the incline, and this alone was greatly to the detriment of the Southportonions, who are accustomed to wage their battles on the splendid ground in in Sussex Road. When the usual preliminaries had been gone through and Southport had lost the toss, the following teams faced each other:- Central: Tyldesley, goal; Walsh and Baxter, backs; Shaw, Ackroyd and Horton, halfbacks; Duncan and Graham, left-wing; Sourbutts and Lea-Jones, right-wing; Dodd, centre. Irwell Springs: Toney, goal; Taylor and Thompson, backs; Radcliffe, Hood and Howarth, halfbacks; Chatburn and Lord, left wing; Sykes and W.Firth, right wing; J.Firth, centre. The home captain having won the toss, decided to play up hill, and Dodd commenced operations. The Springs men being custom to the ground, at once went off with a rush, and soon found Tyldesley plenty to do, and although they rattled away at the Central citadel, Tyldesley, who thoroughly retrieved his form, kept his charge intact, repelling some terrific shots for half-an-hour, when W.Firth got one past him. After this reverse the visitors got to work, and paid frequent visits to the home quarters, but their energetic efforts were always repelled, till within a couple of minutes of half-time, when Lea-Jones equalised. After a brief rest ends were changed, and Baxter went half-back in place of Shaw. Soon after the commencement of the second half the home team was soon busy about the Central goal. Tyldesley, however, was up to the mark, and for a time he kept them at bay. During the ensuing twenty minutes the home team had matters all their own way, and put on a couple more goals. With this score against the Central it looked any odds that they would retire beaten, but they pulled themselves together, and all the members of the team works with capital unison, with the result that before the whistle sounded they had equalised. The referee ordered an extra half-hour’s play, and during the first quarter both sides scored a goal, making the total four each. With a quarter of an hour to play, the Central men worked in the most scientific manner, and in the end they gained the coveted point, and this won a stubborn and exciting contest by five goals to four. It would be invidious to specially mention any single member of the team as one and all worked in a combined manner, and gave a brilliant exposition of the Association code. However, we may state that Tyldesley made up for his poor displays in the two previous matches, and thoroughly deserved the eulogiums that were showered upon him at the conclusion of the game. The team certainly gave a better display than the most sanguine of their supporters anticipated, and at the ensuing matches they are certain of increased patronage. Messrs. McGowan and Greenwood, as umpires, and Mr.S. Ormerod, as referee, gave general satisfaction.