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)

Liverpool and District Cup

Southport Central (2nd) v Whiston – Last Saturday the Central first team should have taken on Whiston in the first round of the Liverpool Cup, but, unfortunately, they had to play Irwell Springs on the same day in the first round of the English cup. Under these circumstances, it was thought desirable to place the 2nd string in the field against Whiston, on the Sports’ Ground, Sussex Road. The visiters commenced proceedings with the wind in their favour, and at once pressed on the Southport back division, but Pasquill relieved and F.Rimmer was noticeable for his clever play. The Southport forwards work their way well up, but the ball was run over the line. Whiston had a claim for hands, but could not score. Hibbs, for Southport, ran the ball over the visiters goal line, and shortly afterwards the Whiston custodian was called upon to repel several shots, which he did in a very creditable style. The visiters made an incursion to the home territory, and experience hard lines, Guest showing up splendidly. Whiston gained a corner, but Walmsley averted danger, and Guest saved a good head at immediately afterwards at the expense of a corner. The whole of the visiting team were playing strongly, and one of the forward sent in a shot which defeated Guest, thus securing the first goal for Whiston. The visiters gained a corner, and had hard lines on several occasions, the home backs and goalkeeper playing in grand form, and when half-time arrived the score remained unaltered. In the second half, although playing against the wind, Whiston secured two more goals ,completely out playing the home team, most of whom were of very little use against their opponents. Just before the call of time Southport managed to get the leather past the visiter’s posts, and an uninteresting game resulted in a victory for Whiston by three goals to one. The following was the Southport team: Guest, Pasquill, Walmsley, F.Rimmer, Evans, Blundell, Blackledge, Brighouse, Forshaw, Hibbs and J.Rimmer.