Salus Populi

Salus Populi. The welfare of the people. It has not featured on the club crest since the early 90s, but it remains the motto of the town. Quiet, often overlooked, but still there in the background. And as Southport FC begins another period of rebuilding, trying to find stability and a sense of direction, perhaps it is time to take those words seriously again.

Something is beginning to stir. A community open training session has been announced for Tuesday 29 July at Haig Avenue, giving people in the town the chance to meet their players and feel part of their team. A charity match on 3 August will raise money for the 24 families affected by last summer’s tragedy. The club’s historical record has also been quietly corrected to reflect 1888, the year Southport Central was formed as a new, unified club. Whisper it quietly, but we’re back.

Salus Populi is not just a bit of Latin, its a reminder that a football club should serve more than just itself. It should mean something to the community around it. It should matter, not only because of what it does on the pitch, but because of how it behaves off it.

From its very first season in 1888, Southport FC was the result of a deliberate effort to create something strong and unified. Influential figures from across the town’s football scene came together with a simple aim, to form a properly run, professional side capable of representing Southport beyond the confines of friendly matches and internal rivalry.

That act of unity gave the club its real beginning. For years, official records pointed further back to 1881, linking the modern club to an earlier team that had folded five years before Southport Central was formed. That distinction has now been acknowledged. Without fanfare, the club has begun using 1888 as the foundation year in its materials, quietly aligning with the historical evidence.

It is a small but meaningful change, and it matters because it reflects a willingness to be accurate, to get the story right, and to lay proper foundations for what comes next.

What 1888 offers is a clearer sense of beginning, and purpose. Heritage, when taken seriously, is not about looking backwards. It is about understanding the foundations and making better choices for the future. The club’s story becomes easier to value when it is properly understood.

Salus Populi may no longer appear on the badge, but its message remains relevant. If the club is to move forward in a way that is more stable, more transparent and more connected, then those words are a good place to begin. The welfare of the people. The idea that something lasting can be built not for show, but for substance and that the club can be judged not only by how it performs, but by what it stands for.

DJH

Disclaimer: This article is published independently by Southport Central. The views expressed are those of the author. The historical research referenced is based on The Town’s Game by Daniel Hayes, and The Sandgrounders by Geoff Wilde and Michael Braham. Southport Central is affiliated with the Football Supporters’ Association and regulated by IMPRESS. This article is not produced on behalf of Southport FC.

Tickets for both the free open training session, and for the charity match are available to purchase from the club’s official website, southportfc.net.