South Liverpool F.C.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

South Liverpool F.C. are a football club from the Aigburth suburb of Liverpool, England. They are currently in the Liverpool County Premier League and play their home matches at Jericho Lane. The club's colours are white shirts, black shorts and red socks.

[edit] History

A South Liverpool F.C. team played in The Combination and the Lancashire League before joining the Second Division of the Lancashire Combination in 1911. The club were promoted to the First Division in 1913, but the competition was suspended during the First World War. After the war, the club played for two more seasons before folding and being reborn as New Brighton F.C.

South Liverpool F.C. reappeared in 1935, playing at Holly Park, Allerton. They rejoined the Lancashire Combination with immediate impact, winning it three years running in 1937, 1938 and 1939. After World War II started, the club joined the Western Section of the Cheshire County League and one season was played before war stopped the game. After the war, the club remained in the Cheshire County League until 1951, when they rejoined the Lancashire Combination, going into the Second Division. In September 1949, Holly Park hosted the first match in the world to be played under "permanent" floodlights. This was a friendly against a Nigerian XI (the first Nigerian side to tour the UK): the final score was 2-2. The club were promoted to the First Division in their first season, but were relegated in 1960 after finishing bottom. Promotion was achieved again in 1962, and in 1966 the club were Champions.

As one of the more successful Non-League clubs in northern England, they were invited to join the newly formed Northern Premier League in 1968. Notable players at this time include Jimmy Case and John Aldridge, who went on to achieve fame with Liverpool F.C. The club remained in the league until financial problems forced the club to fold after the 1990/1 season.

During this period, the club applied (unsuccessfully) on 10 occasions for election to the Football League. The club had also been relatively successful in the FA Cup, reaching the first round eight times and the second round twice, though the only time they achieved a "giant-killing" feat was when they beat Halifax Town in 1964. The club was more successful in the Welsh Cup, and despite only entering twice, they won it in 1939, beating Cardiff City in the final.

The club immediately reformed, merging with local side Cheshire Lines. The new club, Cheshire Lines South Liverpool, played in the Second Division of the Liverpool County Combination, gaining promotion in their first season. After a succesful first season in the First Season, the club took the decision to demerge.

A newly independent South Liverpool joined the Second Division of the Liverpool County Combination in 1995 and gained promotion at the first attempt. Until the end of the 2005/6 season, the club remained in the County Combination. In the summer of 2006, the County Combination merged with the I Zingari League to create the Liverpool County Premier League. Due to their low finish in 2005/6 (11/15), the club was placed in Divsion One.

In 2006, the site of Holly Park was redeveloped and was opened as Liverpool South Parkway rail station.