Hello Local History Group 2 Members,
We are pleased to offer a tour of Southport Football Club on Friday 12 June at 10.30am.
We will have tea/coffee on arrival before having a look at the facilities and hearing all about the history of the club.
History
Southport Football Club, nicknamed "the Sandgrounders", is an association football club based in Southport, Merseyside.[1] The club competes in the National League North, the sixth level of the English football league system. Their home matches are played at Haig Avenue football stadium.
Although association football was played in the town's private schools in the late 1870s, the first association club was not formed in the town until November 1881. Bearing the name of Southport Football club, the club originally began as a rugby club, the 'handling code' having been played competitively since 1872.
The man responsible for the decision to switch to association football was a former Welsh international, Thomas Blundell Burnett. He was the instigator of the switch, he was the Secretary of the new club, and he was also the Captain.[citation needed]
The club played its games on a field on a large plot of land opposite to the entrance of Chambres Road on the corner Scarisbrick New Road and Ash Street backing onto Trap Lane (today's Southbank Road), roughly where Westmoreland Road lies today. There was space enough for multiple pitches, one of which was used by Southport Olympic rugby club.
To learn more about the history of our local club, please join us on this visit. The cost is £5.00 which includes tea/coffee etc.
Travel to Haigh Avenue.
- Buses no 375 leaves the bus stop on Eastbank St at 10.13 to arrive near Haigh Avenue at 10.18.
- Bus no 300 leaves the chapel st bus stop at 10.09 and stops near to Haigh Avenue.
- Bus no 44 also from Eastbank St is at 9,57.
There is on road parking near to the stadium.
Our visit starts at 10.30 and is likely to last about 75 minutes.
TO BOOK: CLICK HERE (or if you prefer, navigate independently to the Southport U3A Website, log into the membership zone and on the Local History Group 2 webpage, and click on the link under Events for: 'Southport Football Club Tour and Talk'.
TO PAY:
- OR Pay by cash or cheque at our Local History Group table at the June 2026 U3A monthly meeting at Christ Church. Cheques should be made payable to 'Southport U3A' (annotated on back of the cheque with your U3A Membership No, and with the words ‘Southport Football Club Tour and Talk').
- OR can be sent by post to Local History 2 co-leader Jessica Wright (address on application to the trip Organiser).
Deadline for all payments: No later than Thursday, 4 June 2026 (date of June U3A meeting at Christchurch, Southport).