THIRTY years ago this week Southport Football Club scraped a 1-1 draw at Buxton in front of a crowd of just 490 people.
It was their fourth Northern Premier League game after demotion to the abyss of the minor football divisions, where rivals Wigan Athletic - now in the FA Premier League - secured election to the Football League.
Just over four months earlier, 'Port had played in front of 10,089 at Watford's Vicarage Road and, needless to the say, the harsh realities of amateur football were beginning to hit home.
Financial strife continued to engulf the club's very existence - had it not been for eleventh hour reprieves in February 1979 and December 1980, Southport FC would not exist today - and popular support from the town had dwindled.

The highs of promotion to the Nationwide Conference at Harrogate in 2005 and the lows of relegation to the Unibond in 2003 are all documented in The Complete Non-League History Of Southport FC

But 1,400 matches, 4,000 goals, 581 players and 22 managers later, Southport, thanks to the strong leadership of chairman of 24 years, Charlie Clapham, have acquired a fresh purpose as they today sit proudly on top of the Blue Square North table.
To commemorate all this, supporters' group Trust In Yellow has released in limited edition The Complete Non-League History Of Southport FC, which details the ups and downs since life in the Football League expired in 1978.
Southport Visiter correspondent Alan Jones is one of several contributors to the book, which documents the incredible highs of promotion and the despair of relegation as well the club's unforgettable 1998 trip to Wembley.
He said: "As every fan knows, following Southport involves its own mix of highs and lows, something which I feel the book conveys well.
"The chapter that seems to have attracted the most attention is the Charlie Clapham story, which I helped compile. We interviewed Charlie just after the end of last season and he gave a real insight into the events at the club since he became chairman nearly 25 years ago.

The Complete Non-League History of Southport FC

"His honesty and enthusiasm from the interview comes across really well and it has been a popular read.
"The book has been very well-received and the feedback from Southport fans and football fans in general around the country has been excellent."

Southport FC manager Liam Watson, chairman Charlie Clapham and chief executive Haydn Preece with copies of the book

Full match and player statistics are listed in the book, thanks to the dedicated work of self-confessed 'Statto', Rob Urwin.
Mr Urwin, who is also membership secretary of Trust In Yellow, is known amongst fans to get more excited about a record being broken than a goal being scored!
He said: "I never thought I would be contacting Gateshead Football Club at 9.20am on a Monday morning in April to check whether an attendance was 350 or 360 for a match in 1981!
"It has been fun, frustrating and rewarding pulling everything together.
"A lot of the information was out there in various places, getting it here was the aim and we got there in the end."
On the cover is an image of Liverpool South Parkway railway station, which now sits on the site of Southport's first- ever non-League fixture at the now-defunct South Liverpool FC. It is a poignant reminder of how fortunate Southport FC were to stave off extinction.
Just 90 copies of The Complete Non-League History Of Southport FC (Legends Publishing) remain and a sell-out is expected. To ensure you get a copy of the book contact Rob Urwin on 01704-570734 or visit the Southport FC Club Shop on matchdays.

May 17 1998 is a day forever remembered by Sandgrounders - Southport FC's appearance at Wembley in the FA Trophy Final

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