bbcgull
Programmes Room Manager
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Post by bbcgull on Nov 18, 2008 0:55:08 GMT
Haig Avenue : SouthportWiki states; Haig Avenue is a football stadium in Southport, England and is the home ground of Southport F.C. The ground is situated to the east of Southport just off the A570, the main road to Ormskirk. It is sited at the edge of a residential area, adjoining school playing fields Haig Avenue now has a capacity of 6,008 people (1,884 seated, 4,124 standing) though the record attendance is 20,010 against Newcastle United in the fourth round of the FA Cup in 1932. These days the ground seldom operates at more than a quarter full, although nearly full houses have been registered for key matches such as the F.A. Trophy semi-final against Slough Town which Southport won to reach their first ever Wembley final. The ground has a covered main stand, called the Grandstand, opposite an uncovered terrace, known as the Popular Side. Behind the goals, the south (Scarisbrick) end is covered; this is where the majority of the home fans congregate. The north (Blowick) away end is open to the elements. The south stand is called the Jack Carr Stand, after a popular director at the club, and was named shortly after his death. The stadium does not carry a sponsor's name. There are limited car parking facilities, however these are reserved for home, away and match officials The ground has played host to Youth Internationals in the past, and has also been home to both Liverpool F.C. and Everton F.C. reserves. It has also numerous hosted FA Women's Cup ties bbcgull edit: This ground was known as Ash Lane until 1921, when Southport were made founder members of Div 3 (S). There main grandstand burnt down by fire in 1966 but a new one was rebuilt the following year... as you can make out in the picture. They lost their league status in 1977/78 after failing to get re-elected and were replaced by Wigan Postcard sourced from the wonderful Groundtastic site once again.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2008 13:16:12 GMT
Let's not forget Southport qualified for the Conference North play-offs last season so we could have easily visited Haig Avenue again. They're currently 2nd behind Tamworth so promotion to the BSP remains a possibility. Southport were perennial strugglers in the Football League but, like Barrow before, found themselves voted from the league just a few years after winning a rare promotion. I've a sneaky feeling they came to Plainmoor in 1973 needing a point or two to secure promotion. They were well-supported that night but we beat them 2-0 to delay the certainty of them ultimately becoming that season's 4th division champions. That was fair side and included future and past Torquay players in Andy Provan and Jim Fryatt - 34 league goals between them that season. There was also a certain Alex Russell, father of the son. I never saw Torquay United at Haig Avenue. Although I was a student in the north of England during Southport's final league years I was always at the other end of the country when we played there. However I do have a couple of Southport v Torquay programmes plus one from the time I saw a very big name appear at Haig Avenue one Sunday afternoon. Southport v Torquay United 1967/68 This dates from one of Southport's headier spells - mid-table Division 3 - and features: - a wonderfully old-fashioned cover - an unusually artistic way of setting out the teams - a reminder of the days when clubs had first, reserve and A teams (and of the golden era of TV rentals!) - a league table that waters the eyes. Manager W Bingham is, of course, Billy Bingham who shortly afterwards became manager of Argyle and, later, Everton and Northern Ireland. Southport v Torquay United 1972/73This is from Southport's championship season and appears to feature a front cover picture taken many years previously. This is looking seawards from the edge of the town centre across the gardens towards the pier. The sea would probably be about two miles beyond the pier (at low tide). Southport v Liverpool - Liverpool Senior Cup 1984It comes as a surprise that the programme box tells me I was at Everton v Liverpool the day before. So it must have been another quick trip down the A59 on the Sunday to see Kenny Dalglish have a run-out at Haig Avenue on his 33rd birthday. Some interesting names on the team sheet - including the odd misspelt one - and one who went on to play for Torquay United. This was David West, a Dorset lad who had moved from Dorchester Town to Liverpool. He never made a first team appearance at Liverpool but did play for Torquay United during the truly horrible 1985/86 campaign. On the Southport side Andy Mutch stood out as a non-league player and later became Steve Bull's foil at Wolves for many years.
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bbcgull
Programmes Room Manager
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Post by bbcgull on Nov 18, 2008 13:26:14 GMT
Great pictures there Barton.
As you said they are doing well in the BSP North and could well be in the Premier soon. Equally so League football again at the Haig is not out of the question.
As always you have great sources from the Rothmans and always seem to have a good programme or two.
I will upload some of my progs sometimes: One of my faves is the 50th Anniversarry edition programme which was also v Wimbledon in their first game in the League.
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bbcgull
Programmes Room Manager
Posts: 1,346
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Post by bbcgull on Jan 31, 2009 14:01:10 GMT
I thought i would bring this one back up with the interest of todays game.
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Post by romfordkev on Feb 1, 2009 19:32:38 GMT
In addition to the Wiki notes that Brett posted on here previously, these are the photos I took at a very cold HAIG AVENUE, SOUTHPORT yesterday - scene of the FA TROPHY 3RD ROUND fixture between "THE SANDGROUNDERS" of Southport and "THE GULLS" of Torquay. THE TATTY LOOKING SIGNAGE OVER THE PLAYERS / MATCH OFFICIALS' ENTRANCE. A MORE MODERN VERSION (INCLUDING CLUB CREST) ADORNS THE ENTRANCE FOR THE CHAIRMAN / BOARD MEMBERS OF SOUTHPORT. THE SMALL - BUT ADEQUATELY STOCKED CLUB SHOP, ON HAIG AVENUE. THE FIXTURE DETAILS DISPLAYED ON BOTH ENDS OF THE MAIN GRANDSTAND. FROM THE RELATIVE WARMTH OF THE GRANDSTAND, A VIEW OF THE "JACK CARR" STAND. THIS IS AT THE SCARISBRICK NEW ROAD END OF THE GROUND - AND IS HOME TO THE SOUTHPORT FANS. AND TO THE LEFT, THE "BLOWICK END" TERRACE. OPEN TO THE ELEMENTS, THIS HOUSES THE AWAY CONTINGENT. THE GRANDSTAND - COMPLETE WITH WHAT I CAN ONLY ASSUME IS THE BOARDROOM TO THE REAR. PRESS SEATS ARE TO BE FOUND IN THE "CUT OUT" SECTION TO THE RIGHT. THE "JACK CARR" FROM MY SEAT IN THE STAND! AND THE "POPULAR" TERRACE IN ALL ITS "OPEN AIR" GLORY......DOESN'T LOOK VERY POPULAR TO ME!! ONE MORE PICTURE OF THE AWAY END. TO BE FAIR, THERE WERE A LOT MORE IN THERE BY KICK OFF....AND IF YOU WERE ONE OF THEM, STANDING IN THAT BITTER SWIRLING WIND, I SALUTE YOU!!
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Dave
TFF member
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Post by Dave on Feb 1, 2009 19:41:21 GMT
many thanks Kev great pictures as usual, the main stand looks a pretty good stand and looked like the best place to watch the game yesterday.
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merse
TFF member
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Post by merse on Feb 1, 2009 19:59:25 GMT
When I went there supporting the Gulls (over 40 years ago I think) that side terrace had a roof and the "Scari Road" was also covered by the same low construction that went right around. That Grandstand had just been built then, but the floodlights look just the same as the crap ones (too low) of those days. Not exactly an inspiring place to watch or play football what with that perma swirling wind of that piece of coast- it feels more like a ruddy sand dune than a football ground! Strange to think that Southport FC were the last club to lose Football League status to the voting procedure and they lost it to neighbouring Wigan who also played in a bit of a shite hole at the time!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2009 0:53:22 GMT
Barton Downs Also due to make his way to Argyle in the proceeding years was Southports number 5 Fred Molyneux who also spent some time as an Exeter City player. Molyneux eventually found his back to Haig Avenue for a second spell round about 1973-74. dspace.dial.pipex.com/bob.dunning/plymouth.htm
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