The story of Southport Rugby Football Club

"SOUTHPORT Football Club v Blackburn, The Rookery, Roe Lane, Southport; crowd of 4,000 expected." Who would have believed that this headline, from August, 1872, would have related to a rugby match and not football?
Today, with the club enjoying thriving senior and local sections, Southport RUFC director of rugby JOHN PORTER looks back on the club's proud history - and forward to a bright future.
IN the later part of 1872, Dr George Coombe, of Southport Infirmary, was the inspiration behind the formation of what was originally known as Southport Football Club, or as we now know it be, Southport Rugby Football Club.
It was formed with the intention of "improving the physical development of our young townsmen". Its first President was the then Mayor of the town, Samuel Swire.
The first games (Southport v Blackburn is the first officially recorded match) were a type of a free for all with teams of 20 or more taking the field, no referee and a multitude of ways to score points. The club though was experiencing some excellent victories and was attracting crowds of 4,000 or more, not bad when international games attracted only a couple of thousand more.
Ten years later, the now famous "Southport Olympic" were playing in their present day colours of red, black and amber and had moved from their original home of Roe Lane (the Rookery) to Mornington Ground, with teams now down to the official 15 and referees now in evidence!
The early 1900s saw great difficulty for the club as the breakaway of rugby league clubs gathered pace. Under the presidency of Sir George Pilkington, the club was reformed and played home games at Victoria Park. In 1913 the club changed its name to Southport Rugby Union Football Club and with it came a great change in fortune, as the team were undefeated throughout the whole season.
The following year saw the start of World War I with 11 players ultimately losing their lives as they went to answer the call to arms.
But the club was determined to carry on and by 1922 the playing staff had grown to 75 with the first XV regularly playing in front of 1,000 spectators. In 1927 the club moved to their present home of Waterloo Road and defeated local rival Preston Grasshoppers 16-0 in their inaugural home fixture.
The 1950s saw many players supplied by King George V School, which led to an amalgamation with the "Old Georgians", represented by former KGV school players.
Around this time the club acquired two more pitches "over the wall", and produced five teams on a regular basis.
In 1966 the club underwent major refurbishment and continued with mixed success on the field. The later years have proved to be difficult ones, the major contributing factor being the closure of the King George V Grammar School and with it the once endless supply of players.
It was in 1964 that I played my first game for Southport on a wet and windy October day in Widnes. I never touched the ball other than in the warm up, but I remember being so proud of wearing the red, black and amber jersey. It was at this time that I could remember the club running seven, yes seven teams - the first, second, third and fourth teams plus the Sandgrounders, Barbarians and Vagabonds.
During the 1970s and 1980s Southport enjoyed success both on and off the field and it was during this period that the Colts team won the Lancashire Cup.
These days, anyone who drives past Waterloo Road playing fields on a Sunday morning will see numerous children ranging from seven years old through to 16.
They will be training or playing a match and to see the pure enjoyment of the free spirit they portray is a pleasure indeed.
The club is now reaping their rewards from the "minis initiative" which started a number of years ago with a number of players coming through to press the senior players for their positions.
Southport is looking healthier than it has done for a while, and as recent as 2006-07 the club won a league title, doing so in tremendous style losing only two games all season.
This coming season will see the re-emergence of a Colts team. This team will be for the under 17 age group and will recruit from the local colleges such as KGV and Southport College plus local schools who extend their leaving age to cater for A-level students.
Under the generous sponsorship of Bernard O'Malley of Nationwide Produce, the club's funds are looking extremely healthy.
A number of projects to improve the facilities are in the pipeline, these include female changing rooms, gymnasium and improved catering and bar amenities.
All coaches, who are qualified and CRB checked, devote their time to our young players in order to introduce both enjoyment and discipline into their lives. The future is well and truly in the hands of these people both on and off the playing field.
The senior side has worked extremely hard during the pre season and look forward to a good campaign, with strength in depth as strong as it has been for a number of years. The link between the past, present and future is key to us moving forward.
Not only does the club provide the sporting opportunity, it also offers the social aspect for supporters, parents and friends alike.
After 137 years the future for Southport RFC is looking as bright as it has done for a number of years.
So, what are you waiting for? Why not come on down to support your local side at Waterloo Road, where there is adequate car parking for over 100 cars.
There is a game every Saturday, for full details please check with the Southport Visiter every Friday.
DO you have any memories or photographs of playing for Southport RUFC over the years?
Please e-mail us at: visiternews@southportvisiter.co.uk or write to: LookBack, Southport Visiter, 26-32 Tulketh St, Southport PR8 1BT.